PANAJI
Self-Help Groups (SHGs) supplying mid-day meals (MDM) to schools across the state are facing a financial predicament, as the state government has failed to clear their dues since January this year.
In all, 108 SHGs, that are currently providing MDMs to nearly 1.6 lakh students of Std I to VIII, are yet to receive their payments that runs into crores of rupees for four months.
Speaking to The Goan Everyday, an in-charge of a SHG in Ponda taluka said, “Our bills have not been cleared since January, and now we have been asked to supply meals till September. As we buy food items on credit, our suppliers have decided not to give us anything till we clear their pending payments. And this is a major concern for us.”
The SHG has been supplying MDMs to over 1,500 pupils studying in schools located in and around Ponda taluka. Nearly 20 people from this SHG are dependent on the supply of mid-day meals as a means of livelihood. Presently, the SGH’s pending bill for four months amounts to over Rs 8 lakh.
“The women in the SHG are totally dependent on MDM payments. We have waited, but we now need to make urgent payments to our drivers and suppliers, or else they will quit and look out for job elsewhere,” she said despondently.
Another SHG in South Goa has now decided to apply for a gold loan so that they are able to supply mid-day meals.
“The women in our SHG are wholly dependent on the MDM business as they are not involved in any other employment activities. Their payments have been pending since long. There are also pending bills of the baker as well as the supplier who provides us with items such as pulses, spices and coconut which are required to prepare the MDMs,” she complained.
“Now I have no other option than to go in for something like a gold loan so that I can start providing students with meals from June 5 onwards,” she lamented, while pointing out that bills amounting to nearly Rs 7 lakh have been pending.
Another SHG has, however, decided to approach the Education Department on Monday with their issues.
“We already have borrowed money from two persons. We cannot take any loans further. So we will mostly have to discontinue with the supply or totally withdraw from supplying MDMs,” she said.
However, when contacted, Director of Education Gajanan Bhat informed that pending dues of SHGs will be cleared within the next 10 days.
“This year, we have decided to continue with the same contract as far as the supply of MDMs is concerned. With regards to the pending dues, the bills were submitted late. But I assure that within the next ten days, the SHGs across the state will be paid,” he assured.
The state government, in September last year, had hiked the rates of mid-day meals by 40 paise at primary level and by 47 paise at the upper primary level, per student per day. With this increase, the revised rate for primary level has increased to Rs 6.11 and Rs 7.26 for upper primary level.
