1 Presentation on the major findings of Monitoring Institutes on implementation of the MDM Scheme in Delhi i. Name of the Monitoring Institution : Centre

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Presentation on the major findings of Monitoring Institutes on implementation of the MDM Scheme in Delhi

i. Name of the Monitoring Institution : Centre for the Study of Developing Societies (CSDS), Delhi

ii. Period of the report : 1st October , 2013 TO 31st March 2014

iii . District’s name

Month and date of Visit

No of Schools visited in each district (Primary and Upper Primary Schools)

PrimarySchools

Upper Primary Schools

AidedSchools

1.South West Delhi

April 19,2014 to May 9 2014 and July3,2014to July 9,2014

20 22 01

2.South Delhi July 4,2014 to July 9,2014

20 20 01

3.South East Delhi

August 19,2014 to August 30,2014

20 20 01

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Key Items(Monitored )

Achievements Actionable points/Critical Points

1.Availability of food grains

2. Timely release of funds:

• MDM Suppliers reported food grains are delivered to them some time in advance. MDM suppliers lifted food grains from FCI with an interval of two/three months.

• There has been considerable regularization of grain supply.

• Directorate of Education (DOE) the state nodal agency releases funds to South Delhi Municipal Corporation twice a financial year i.e. in July and November. While Delhi Govt. funds release to district level..

MME funds released to Directorate of Education schools in the month of February 2014. While in South Delhi Municipal Corporation MME funds were not released to schools.

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3.Availability of Cooking Cost

4.Availability of Cook-cum-helpers:

In In Directorate of Education (DOE) schools cooking cost is available at district level and South Delhi Municipal Corporation school cooking cost is available at zone level.

Cook cum helpers are engaged by Mid Day Meal suppliers in schools and centralized kitchens.

• Cooking costs are paid to suppliers between 50- 60 days after supplying of meals in DOE schools and South Delhi Municipal Corporation.

• Cook-cum-helpers engaged by suppliers is not accordance with the prescribed GOI norms which has to be in consideration of the number of enrolled children.

• School MDM in-charge not aware of norms of Cook cum helpers deployed in DMC (South ) DOE and aided schools.

• MI noticed during several visits to schools that there is discrepancy between the sanctioned honorarium for and the actual sum received by cook cum helpers.

A mechanism for payment to helpers could be made through banking channel.

• Cook cum helpers record was not made available at kitchen during MI visit.

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5.Regularity in Serving Meal

Fresh cooked meal is given to primary and Upper primary children on school day. The meals are cooked at centralized kitchens of MDM Suppliers.

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Key Items(Monitored)


6. Trends • It was observed by MI on visit day that 81% of primary and 74% upper primary children had availed meal as per MDM register in South West Delhi district .

• In South Delhi district,72% of primary and 63% of upper primary children actually availed MDM.

•In South East Delhi district 80% of primary school and 76% of upper primary children had availed meal as per MDM register.

•The coverage is a positive indicator of the MDM

•During school visit and head count of children observed difference between actual consumption of meal, in South West Delhi , 8% primary & 16% upper primary.• In South Delhi, 7% primary and 15% upper primary.• In South East Delhi 8% primary and 12% upper primary.

• Though an issue of practical concern only in cases where there is glaring difference it needs to be noted that schools prepared meal card on attendance basis rather than actual consumption.•It was observed that secondary class children also seemed to be enthusiastic about availing MDM in Directorate of Education schools.

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7. Quality and quantity of meal:

•School children reported that meal was average quality and quantity insufficient

• Though puri is a favorite item amongst children yet quality concerns continue to remain. The quality of puris and rice was not satisfactory; puris were found to be hard; Instances of under cooked or over cooked puri and rice being served in MDMs.•Nearly 65% of primary and upper primary school children informed puris and rice quantity was not sufficient. Two puri primary and three puri Upper primary were common to serve among children as reported helper and children. In our recent visit we had got two puris weighed which amounted to about 70-80 grams.

• About 53% Children do not like to eat halwa in DMC schools .

•Shortage of cooked meals in High enrollment schools is a concern.

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8.Variety of meal, Menu and MDM Logo display.

•The menu prescribes 3 days rice based and 3 days wheat based meals.

•In 37% South West Delhi, 29% South Delhi and 22 % South East Delhi, Directorate of Education (DOE) 20% South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) schools had displayed MDM menu and logo on convenient and noticeable places.

•Children and teachers also informed that green vegetable was occasionally mixed with Dal and curry.•Dal and chhole quality was found poor.• Those schools who haven't followed this norm have to be encouraged to display the logo and , menu and entitlements. • MDM logo was not displayed at any South Delhi Municipal Corporation appointed MDM suppliers kitchen.

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9. School Health Programme

•Weekly iron folic scheme (WIFS) and de-worming tablets were given to all children's in the last six months.

•None of the sampled DOE , South Delhi Municipal Corporation and aided schools children had health card at school level.• Directorate of Education (DOE) school children's health check up was found to be at slow pace due to inadequate man power deployed for the purpose.• None of aided school children were extended health checkup provision. i.e. Khalsa middle school Sarojni Nagar visit date 7.4.2014 in South Delhi and Sanatan Dharma Coed school Sadar bazar visit day 5.4.2014 in South Delhi.

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10.AvailabilityPotable Drinking Water: Source.

It was observed that sampled schools and centralized kitchens have water connection from Delhi Jal Board and bore wells. MDM suppliers have installed RO plants in kitchen.

• Scarcity of water was found to be a common problem, particularly in 2nd shift boy's schools in all three districts. Even schools having bore wells were found having irregular water availability.•Students bring their own drinking water from home.• Aqua guards installed in schools were inadequate.

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11. SAFETY & HYGIENE

•It is noticed that out of 43 sampled schools in South West Delhi. (20%) schools had very good,50% good safety arrangements, and (30%) had fair .• Out of 41 sampled schools in South Delhi, 15% schools very good, 60% good safety arrangements, and (25 %) had fair .• Out of 41 sampled schools in South East Delhi 15% schools had very good,45 good safety arrangements, and (40 %) had fair .•All sampled schools had adequate number of fire extinguishers and frequent•Demo carried out by concerned department.

•The practice of hand wash was not found satisfactory in sampled primary and upper primary schools.• This is due to short lunch breaks, lack of motivation from teachers and water shortage.

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12. CommunityParticipationand Awareness

School Management committee (SMC) has been constituted in all sampled Directorate of Education (DOE) and South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) Schools.

• However while the committees are in place Parents/community/local body members have poor awareness of their roles , responsibilities and entitlements for MDM as notified by the state government/local body. •Training towards active involvement in term of supervision and monitoring of MDM had not been imparted to the SMC .

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13. Inspections and supervisions:

In order to address MDM issues DOE Addl.

Director MDM State official and School principal and MDM in-charge visited MDM kitchen frequently.

• Need for Directorate of Education(DOE) and aided schools to hold meetings with MDM in-charge at District/zonal levels. •No suggestions/remarks maintained in the registers of the MDM in any sampled schools. Thus constrains keeping track of quality and other concerns over a period of time. This practice will itself serve as a mode of ensuring accountability of the Suppliers consistently. •Lack of inspections by concerned Municipal corporation /district DOE officials during MDM hours.

•DOE and aided schools have not maintained records of cooked meal quantity received .

Rice mixed with currhi before serving meal. School visit day 6-05-2014- SKV, Samalkha,

Rice based meal distribution practices by helpers. School visit day 29-04-2014- Govt. Girls Sr. Secondary School Paprawat Najafgarh

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Presentation by:

Name Dr. Priyadarshini Vijaisri

Official Designation and Nodal Officer Project Director/Nodal officer

Name & Address of the Monitoring Institute

Center for the study of developing Societies (CSDS)

Office phone No 23983340

Thank you.

Documents

1 Presentation on the major findings of Monitoring Institutes on implementation of the MDM Scheme in Delhi i. Name of the Monitoring Institution : Centre