PANAJI
The Directorate of Education has started clearing the pending dues of the 98 self-help groups (SHGs), serving mid-day meal across 1400-odd schools.
The department has settled the bills for the month of August and September, 2024, as on date while the bills for the month of October are being scrutinized.
The Goan had reported about the non-payment to SHGs since August, last year, as the available mid-day meal funds were exhausted. The total dues to be paid to the SHGs is around Rs 13-odd crore.
There are 98 SHGs and nine Parent-Teacher Associations (PTAs) currently supplying the meal to over 1.60 lakh students across Goa.
When contacted, Director Education Shailesh Zingade confirmed that the department has cleared the payment for August and September, 2024.
Mid-day meal expenses for approximately 1,400 schools across the state are expected to reach Rs 38.27 crore for the current academic year. Of this, Rs 18.78 crore will be borne by the Centre, with the rest contributed by the State.
With effect from December, last year, the government hiked the mid-day meal rates paid to SHGs. As per revised rates, SHGs will be paid Rs 8.75 per student per day for 100gms of the meal at the pre-primary (of government and government-aided schools) as against Rs 8 and primary level, and Rs 11.12 per student per day for 150gms of the meal for upper primary school students against earlier rate of Rs 10.
Non-payment of their bills periodically and regularly, is a common complaint of the mid-day meal suppliers to schools across the State. On several occasions in the recent past, they even threatened to temporarily discontinued food supply to the students.
