Mandya Zilla Panchayat CEO told officials that the place where the cooking is done must be clean, the utensils used for cooking must be clean, and clean water must be used for cooking. Children must be made aware of these, she added.
All field education officers of the School Education Department of Karnataka, BRC and CRC functionaries, and officers of all levels of the Akshara Dasoha division have been directed to visit at least one school once in 15 days, taste the food prepared under the Midday Meal scheme, ensure its quality, and also inspect the food materials and the place where they are stored. They have been told to send photographs of their visit and observations through WhatsApp.
Mandya Zilla Panchayat CEO K R Nandini issued this directive to the officials during a progress review meeting of the scheme at her office in Mandya on November 25.
She said only quality eggs must be distributed to schoolchildren. Old and spoiled eggs should not be distributed. As per the directions of the government of Karnataka, eggs must be distributed six days a week, she said.
Using leafy vegetables and other vegetables within the limit of available grants, clean, tasty, and nutritious food must be provided to the students, the CEO said.
She told the officials that the place where the cooking is done must be clean, the utensils used for cooking must be clean, and clean water must be used for cooking. Children must be made aware of these, Ms. Nandini added.
Schools must be instructed to arrange floor mats for students during lunchtime. Proper floor mats may be purchased under the school’s consolidated fund, or other available grants as per rules, she advised.
She said the quality of the food materials supplied to schools under the Midday Meal scheme must be checked and ensured at all levels. The head teachers of the schools must check the quality of the food materials immediately after they are received. If the quality is not good, steps must be taken to return them within four days, she said.
Lokesh G., Deputy Director of the School Education Department, Akshara Dasoha Education Officer Ravikumar, and all field education officers of the district and assistant directors of the Akshara Dasoha programme were present.
Published – November 26, 2025 05:03 pm IST
