New Delhi:
The Centre today decided to set up a committee to review the implementation of its flagship midday meal scheme and monitor better the quality of food served and ensure hygiene standards.
The Human Resource Development Ministry, which pilots the programme, claimed today that it had alerted 12 Bihar districts after shortcomings were found in executing the scheme.
"What has happened is an unfortunate incident. We are pained by the death of young children and 23 of them. The focus should be to see it does not recur," HRD Minister MM Pallam Raju told reporters as he announced the decision to set up the committee.
The committee is expected to supplement the efforts of the existing mid-day meal monitoring committee which meets twice a year and warns the states if there are any shortcomings.
"We have decided to form another committee which will look into the qualitative aspect of implementation of the programme, the quality of the food that is supplied, the effectiveness of the supply chain and the hygiene of the place where it is cooked," he said.