NOON MEAL PROGRAMME- A HISTORY
1. Free mid- day meals to poor pupils in Lower
Primary Schools was introduced with the material assistance of CARE
(Co-operative for American Relief Everywhere) during 1961-62 as per G.O. (Rt) No. 2013/61 Edn.dated 31-8-1961. They had withdrawn the assistance from
1984 and gradually left the field by 1986. It was a welfare scheme and was
enjoyed by poor and needy pupils. Consequent on the withdrawal of assistance of
CARE School Feeding Programme, the Government of Kerala was constrained to take over the responsibility of
noon feeding in Primary Schools. Accordingly Kanji Feeding was introduced in
the place of care feeding from 1-12-1984. L.P. Schools
of both Government and aided schools in 222 fishermen villages and tribal belts
were brought under the scheme. Subsequently the programme
was extended to all L.P. Schools of Government and Aided in the state from
31-12-1985.
2. During 1987-88 the scheme issued different
shape. The area of feeding was widened. As a matter of policy of Government the
programme was extended to all Upper Primary Schools
and Upper Primary sections in High Schools from 1987-88 as per G.O. (P) No.
160/87/Gl.Edn. dated 28-7-1987 with effect from
15-8-1987. It was introduced as a people's programme.
Feeding committee were constituted in every feeding
centre. The committee consisted of the Headmaster of the school, PTA President,
a representative of teachers and a nominee of local body. One of the members
would be chosen as the President of the committee. The committee was aided to
administer the scheme of supplying mid day meal in schools. The committee was
to conduct the supply of Noon Meals in schools with the assistance of local
people and Government. The committee selected the pupils for feeding. No
eligible pupil was left out of the scheme. A state level committee was also
constituted to review periodically the progress of implementation of the
scheme.
3. The food grains used to feed the pupils
were rice and green gram. The ration paid per pupil per day was 60 grams of
rice coupled with green gram of 30 grams and palmolien
I gram and condiments. Boiled rice and side dish
prepared with green gram, palmolien and condiments
were served as Noon Meal to every needy pupil.
4. The scheme was implemented through the
heads of schools. The food materials for feeding were made available on credit
basis through the Civil Supplies Corporation. The Heads of schools are to
collect the feeding materials from the nearest Maveli
store on production of indents duly passed by the Assistant Education Officer
concerned.
5. The Noon Feeding Programme
in the state is administered by the Director of Public Instruction at the state
level and assisted by the Senior Administrative Assistant (NMP). At the
District level the programme was supervised and
inspected by the Deputy Director (Education) and supervisors of Noon Meal Programme. The Noon Meal supervisors visited the feeding centres and scrutinised the
number of pupils, fed on the day of visit and examined the quality of cooked
food supplied, functioning of feeding committee, facilities available in the
school for cooking, stock of food materials, details of funds and its
utilization etc. The visit report of the Noon Meal
Supervisors are reviewed by Assistant Educational Officer and the
Director of Public Instruction. The Director of Public Instruction issued
suitable instruction of rectify the defects if found necessary in the
implementation of the scheme. Annual verification of records was also conducted
by the supervisors. The Assistant Educational Officers are the immediate
controlling and inspecting officers at the lower level. The District
Educational Officers also played a vital role in the implementation of the
scheme.
6. Since the introduction of the NP-NSPE (National
Programme National Support to Primary Education) by
Government of India, on the 15th of August 1995, the noon feeding scheme of the
State was also brought under the NP-NSPE. Accordingly, Government of India
issues 100 gram rice/pupil completely free of cost to pupils of Standard. I to V, who are in the list of noon feeding.
7. But the scheme is introduced in Kerala, with a slight difference. Here the scheme is
extended to pupils of Standard. VI and VII also, while Government of India
considers only pupils of Standard. I to V. Similarly,
while Government of India allows 100 gram of rice/pupil, we in the state supply
only 60 gram/pupil. But in order to compensate this, 30 grams of any one pulse
items such as Green gram, Bengal gram, Turdhal or Lobia is also supplied
per pupil, as side dish, since the rice is supplied as cooked food to pupils.
The entire cost of purchase of these pulse items is met by the State Government .
8. Moreover the Central Government is also
financing partly the transportation cost of the rice lifted from the FCI godowns to Maveli Stores. The
transportation cost paid to Maveli Stores by the
State Government i.e. Rs. 140/Qtl. Out of this Rs. 140 Rs. 50/Qtl. is reimbursed
by Government of India and the balance of Rs. 90/Qtl.
is met by the State Government from the state budgetary provisions.
9. In addition to the above transportation
cost and cost of purchase of pulse items, the State Government also meet the
contingent charges of transportation of all these materials from Maveli Stores to schools as well as the fuel charges,
cooking charges etc.
10. In addition to the regular noon feeding in
schools special rice 5. Kg. per pupil, who are in the
feeding list is supplied during Onam, X'mas and Ramzan. It was started
from the Academic year 1997-98 and still continuing .
11. The contingent charges are paid to schools
through local bodies and the fund is allotted by the General Education
Department.
12. From 2008-2009 onwards, Online software
created for supply of INDEND and the calculation of CONTIGENT CHARGES. It was
very helpful to reduce the job of the officials for the calculation process
13. And now 2010-11, E-banking system had developed by the Government
for the distribution of contingent charges,the amount of Egg distribution and the contingency for MILK Distribution.
