Monitoring of Mid day meals programme in Andhra

Monitoring of Mid day meals programme in Andhra Pradesh (October 1, 2010 to March 31, 2011) Observations of Monitoring Institute of Andhra Pradesh National Institute of Rural Development, Hyderabad

Objectives § To assess the progress of implementation of approved plans at district level and state level. § Sample check progress in achievement of some key out come indicators. § Verify the process and procedures undertaken for implementation of the scheme.

Sample § 240 schools from six districts i. e. Karimnagar, Rangareddy, Nalgonda, Kurnool, Krishna and Guntur. Each district represents 40 schools with different criteria. § The sample includes Primary, Upper Primary and High schools representing rural, Urban and tribal areas with different managements

Reference period § Reference period was June 1, 2010 to December 31. 2010 and monitored during the first half yearly period i. e. October 1, 2010 to March 31, 2011.

Availment of Mid day meals in sample schools of the districts S. No. 1. District Karimnagar Percentage 84% 2. Ranga reddy 70% 3. Guntur 74% 4. Krishna 66% 5. Kurnool 80% 6. Nalgonda 79%

• Menu board is not a usual practice occasionally green vegetable are being served in the sample schools. • In all most all the sample districts Eggs are being served but not weekly basis, majority of the schools are serving weekly once, very few schools are serving weekly twice. • In Some of the districts the NCLP schools are not being pro vided the mid day meals some how the NGOs Implementing agencies of NCLP are arranging on their own.

Quality and Quantity of the food § In majority of the schools the quality of the rice is of good quality. In Krishna and Nalgonda and Guntur district the MI has observed that majority of the schools buffer stock of rice is not maintained. On and above shortage of rice i. e minus balance of rice is forcing the cooking agents to buy from the open market or borrowing from the other agencies. § Shortage of 3 to 5 Kgs of rice in supplied rice bags is observed in majority of the schools. § Food served is not sufficient particularly in tribal schools. Other wise in rest of the schools it is observed that the served food is quite sufficient.

Personnel involved in cooking the food in Mid-day-meals • In all most all the sample districts the majority of the cooks are Self Help Group members followed by some NGOs and Mahila Mandali members. • The social status of cooks are mostly from Scheduled castes, Back ward caste and Scheduled Tribes only few are from other castes.

Monthly remuneration to cooks and regularity of payment § The payment of remuneration and cooking cost is monthly but it is observed that in majority of the districts the payment was received up to December 2010. Delay in payment of remuneration is diluting the quality.

Infrastructure facilities § Almost 60 to 80% schools of the sample do not have proper kitchen sheds. § 60% of the sample schools the grains are stored in the class rooms of the schools the remaining schools are the grains are stored in the cooks house. § 70% of the sample schools the potable water facility is not available in the school premises but they are carrying from the out side of the schools.

§ Majority of the schools in sample districts the cooking of MDM is through fire wood. Some schools are having LPG connection followed by few schools are using cow dung and other material for cooking the MDM. § In tribal schools the cooking of MDM is exclusively through fire wood only.

§ As far as Teachers involvement is concerned majority of the schools the teachers are involved but they are not concentrating on the issues related to the cooking agency. Like § issue of rice § Maintenance of menu § Adequate number of cooking cum helpers § Ensuring quality § Conserving water etc.

Inspection of MDM by the parents an officials § Majority of the schools the MEO’s are doing supervising the programme. § As far Dy. E. O are concerned only 10% of the sample schools the inspection was attended by the Dy. E. O. § Parents and community leaders are occasionally doing inspection. § In adequate information regarding the scheme among teachers, cooking agents, functionaries and community members is observed in all the districts.