Mid Day Meal Programme

Annual Work Plan and Budget 2010-11 (Tripura) 1. Introduction:

1.1 Brief history

Tripura, the north eastern state of India is nestled in the far east of India, neighbouring the country of Bangladesh. The state headquarters is located at Agartala , which is also the capital of the State. Tripura is one of the seven states in the north eastern part of India. It is bounded on the north, west, south and south-east by Bangladesh whereas in the east it has a common boundary with Assam and Mizoram.

Tripura was a princely state, before becoming integral part of the Republic of India. Monarchy in Tripura ended on 9th September 1947. The last ruling Maharaja of Tripura, Bir Bikram Kishore Manikya, ascended the throne in year 1923 and, before his death in the year 1947, settled that Tripura should accede to the newly independent country of India. Tripura officially became part of India on Oct. 15, 1949, and a Union Territory on 1st November 1956. It became a constituent state of the Indian Union on Jan.21, 1972.

The state Govt. of Tripura launched Mid-Day-Meal Scheme in the state w.e.f 1st March ,1980 for children reading in classes I-V in Govt. and Govt. aided schools. Under the scheme , the school going children of primary stage were provided dried food like biscuit, chira, muri and locally available seasonal fruits for 200 days in a year. Subsequently, Govt. of India introduced Mid-Day-Meal programme under the scheme entitled “National Programme of Nutritional support to primary Education”(NP-NSPE) w.e.f. 15th August 1995 in the whole country as a centrally sponsored scheme. As per guideline of the scheme, each child from classes I-V having attendance in schools up to 80% was supplied 3 kg of rice per month. Government of India provided rice free of cost and Rs.50.00 per quintal as subsidy for transportation of foodgrains.

Thereafter, in pursuance to the direction of the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India, the State Government began providing cooked meal (khichudi) to the eligible primary school children on all school day since 1st April 2003 under Mid-Day-Meal. The NP-NSPE Scheme was first revised in 2004 and again in 2006. Government of India has started providing central assistance to all state Government @ Rs.1.00 per child per school day w.e.f. 1st September 2004 which was enhanced to Rs.1.80 per child per day w.e.f. 1st September 2006. Government of India further enhanced the rate of cooking cost from Rs.1.80 per child per school day to Rs.2.75 in Primary and from Rs. to Rs.3.88 in the Upper Primary which was made effective on the 14th December 2009, in the State. Of these, 3 Central Assistance in primary is Rs.2.25 and State share is Rs.0.50 per child and for Upper Ptimary, Central assistance is Rs.3.38 and State share is Rs.0.50 per child. Mid-Day-Meal is run in 4004 Primary schools and 1002 nos. Independent S.B Schools of the state for Upper-primary school children w.e.f. 1st July 2008. During the last part of 2nd quarter, Mid- Day meal has also been extended to 623 Upper Primary schools attached with High and Higher Secondary schools. Till date, a total of 4,49,353 children in the Primary stage and 2,09,344 in the Upper Primary stage have opted for the Mid-Day meal in schools. Mid-day-Meal had been extended to all EGS & AIE centers established under SSA Scheme w.e.f.1st December 2005 in the State.

The prime objective of this scheme is to enhance enrollment, retention and attendance and simultaneously improving nutritional levels among children.

1.2 Process of Plan Formulation

Plan Preparation activities are the basis of the plan, the Department is expected to develop Mid-Day-Meal Plan in order to achieve the goal of improving nutritional levels among the target group by ensuring quality cooked food served to the children of Primary and Upper- Primary schools and also other objectives in implementing the scheme. However, before the preparation of Annual Work Plan & Budget 2010-11, every implementing officer is supposed to undertake various activities known as “Pre-Plan Activities.” It is necessary to analyze the exact problem and shortcomings of the objective areas specially the target groups before preparing a plan. The Department has undertaken to collect the data in the form of enrolment from the Districts to ascertain the actual requirement in terms of monetary and foodgrains. Similarly in convergence with Food department, the actual position of food grains sub-allocated to different implementing officers has also been taken. Apart from this, all implementing officers have been briefed regarding collection and furnishing of data for a complete preparation of plan as per guidelines of MHRD, GOI.

2. Description and assessment of the programme implemented in the current year (2009-10) and proposal for next year(2010-11) with reference to:

<2.1 Regularity and wholesomeness of mid day meals served to children; reasons for programme interruptions, if any and planning to minimize them.

Supply of cooked food to the school children is implemented on all school days in all schools of the state without any interruption. Mid-day-meal is being served even during school examinations in the state. Apart from this, an instruction has been issued to serve Mid-Day meal even during the rainy days when attendance is likely to fall far short of the enrollment strength.

2.2. Food grains management, including adequacy of allocation, timeliness of lifting, transportation and distribution, and suitability of storage at different levels. Challenges faced and plan to overcome them.

In Tripura , Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department is the Nodal Agency for lifting of food grains from FCI Godown and then storing it in the Sub-Divisional Godown of the State. Thereafter, the dealers of Fair Price shops lift foodgrains from Sub-Divisional food godown and store it in their respective store house. The School authority arranges lifting of rice from F.P. Shop through organizers and keeps the lifted rice in safe storage in school.

4 So far as the quantity and quality of food grains are concerned under MDM programme, there is no complaint in the state. Whatever allocation received from GOI, these are sub-allocated and ensured in reaching the schools in due time.

Figure . 1. Food Grain flow chart.

FCS & CA/Food Department

Food Godown

Fair Price Fair Price Fair Price Fair Price Fair Price Fair Price Fair Price Fair Price Shop Shop Shop Shop Shop Shop Shop Shop

School school school school school school school school

The Inspector of Schools submits monthly requisition of rice showing school-wise shortfall or surplus of rice of previous month to the Sub-Divisional Rationing Authority. On the basis of these requisitions, the rationing authority issues delivery order against each school authorizing the concerned Fair Price Shops to supply the required rice to different schools for MDM programme. The Inspector of Schools transfer fund of cooking cost to the Joint accounts of MTAs on monthly basis. The organizers of all schools receive fund from Head teachers as and when required for purchase of food ingredients and fire woods/ gas cylinder etc.

. 2.3. System for release of funds provided under cooking costs (Central and State). Please indicate the dates when the fund was released to Directorate/State Authority,District/ Block/Gram Panchayat and finally to the Cooking Agency.

The finance department of the state government releases fund based on requisition of the School Education Department both against central assistance and state share. Then the School Education Department directly place fund with all Inspector of Schools and the Chief Executive officer for schools under TTAADC. The Inspector of Schools draw fund on submission of A.C. bills to the concerned Treasury / Sub-Treasury Officers and transfer the fund to join MTAs Account of all schools under their respective jurisdiction through banks. In case of TTAADC, the School Education Department transfers the fund to the P.L.Account of TTAADC. There after, the Chief Executive Officer transfer the fund to all Inspectors of School (TTAADC) through bank draft. 5

Figure .2. Finance Department

School Education Department

I/S I/S I/S CEO

(TTAADC)

MTA MTA MTA MTA MTA MTA MTA MTA MTA I/S I/S I/S

MTA MTA MTA

It may be mentioned that, during the year 2009-10, State received ad-hoc grant from GOI on 10/06/2009 and there after, it released to the Department on 22/06/2009. Total amount received was Rs.313.99 for Primary and Rs.83.28 for Upper Primary. 2.4. System for procuring cooking ingredients (fuel, condiments, oil, etc.), Commodities, which are centrally purchased and supplied to schools or locally purchased at school level. < Head teacher who is the convener of MTA is responsible for maintaining stock book of rice and other food ingredients and accounts of receipt and expenditure of MDM fund. He keeps all vouchers in his custody and submits utilization of rice and fund to the Inspector of Schools. MTA members hold meeting once in a month and take decision and corrective measures for effective implementation of the programme in each school. One organizer and required Cooks are engaged for each school by the Goan Panchayat / Ward Committee to run the programme. The organizer receives fund from the HM on weekly basis and make expenditure for purchase of dal, vegetable, oil and spices from local market, and draws rice from the fair price shop. After expenditure, he submits vouchers to the HM. In Tripura, the VECs headed by Pradhan of Goan Panchayat / Ward members supervise the implementation of the mid- day meal in all schools located in their areas. 2.5 System for cooking, serving and supervising mid- day- meals in the school and measures to prevent any untoward happening.

The MTA along with the Head Teacher supervises daily to ensure that specified quantity of rice and other food ingredients are used in preparing mid-day-meal. Besides, two or three mothers attend school daily to supervise preparation and serving mid-day-meal and ensure use of specified quantity of rice, dal and other seasonal vegetables etc as per school calendar prepared by each school authority. The mothers also put down their views / comments in the Mother’s MDM visit book regarding quality of food served on each day. 6

2.6. Procedure for getting Kitchen-Shed constructed. At present there are 6400 Govt. managed primary and upper primary schools / sections, out of which 3266 number of schools are not having pucca kitchen shed till 2009-10. Kitchen-sheds are constructed as per model estimate approved and communicated by the GOI. Fund toward this construction is placed with the school Authority who get it constructed with the knowledge of the School Development Management Committee who are also entrusted to supervise the works to ensure its quality. Construction of kitchen shed could not be converged with any other programmes in the State. Provisions of drinking water and toilet are being taken care of under SSA and Drinking Water & Sanitation Department of the state. 2.7. Procedure of procurement of kitchen devices from (i) funds released under the Mid Day Meal Programme (ii) other sources. Kitchen devices have been provided to 3764 Primary and Upper Primary schools @ Rs.5000/- per school. These are procured from registered Cooperative Societies/local marketin every Sub- Division.The State Govt. though had proposed in the last AWP 2009-10,but so far no fund has been sanctioned to the State for the purpose. 2636 Nos. of schools are yet to be provided with kitchen devices. The Department is also exploring the possibilities of providing these devices from its Plan fund. 2.8. Capacity building and training conducted for different categories of persons involved in the Mid Day Meal Programme.

During 2009-10 awareness campaigns in the form of meeting are being regularly held with the Headmasters/Headmistresses of schools and also MTAs, SDMCs and VECs where Mid Day meal is discussed so that those who are implementing and supervising have the knowledge of the objective of the scheme and these awareness can replicated down to the common man. This same kind of meeting is also taken up at District level. Training progamme for cooks and helpers could not be organized so far in the state. This will be organized during 2010-11. Training of HMs and Primary Teachers on mid-day-meal programme has been organized at SIPARD to accommodate as much numbers of HMs / Teachers as possible in 2009-10. 2.9. Management Information System at School, Village/Gram Panchayat, Block, District and State level. All Head Teachers of schools where mid-day-meal is being implemented have to submit monthly reports indicating number of children taking mid-day-meal, fund utilized and rice utilized for the reporting month to the Inspector of Schools. Besides they submit requirement of fund and rice showing unutilized balance to the concerned Inspector of Schools. Thereafter, Inspector of Schools submits monthly reports along with inspection reports of mid-day-meal programme to the District Education Officer. Similarly, District Education Officer sends all these reports after having compiled to the Director of School Education (MDM Cell). All the four districts of the state level have been provided fund out of MME for purchase and installation of one computer for management and information system. However, the existing infrastructure available both at the District and Inspectorate level need to be upgraded by setting up network facility for feeding and sending of reports on weekly basis so that performance of mid day meal programme can be recorded by the Department. For this to happen, GOI need to place a separate fund under MME towards for setting up of this facility. 7

2.10. Systems to ensure transparency and openness in all aspects of programme implementation, including inter alia, food grains management, ingredients procurement, cooking and serving, appointment of cooking staff, construction of kitchen sheds, procurement of cooking devices.

,,Accountability and transparency in respect of food grains, quality of meal, addition of vegetables and expenditure of cooking cost etc. are being ensured through effective monitoring by MTAs and physical presence of 2/3 mothers on each school day. Mothers are recording their views in Mother’s MDM visit book regarding quantity of rice, other food ingredients used and quality of meal on school days. Beside , Inspector of Schools, Dy. Inspectors are also regularly visiting schools for inspections of relevant registers including vouchers / documents relating to MDM programme as per monthly targets fixed for them. Moreover, member of VECs, MTA and School Development committee are also authorized to inspect Mid-day-meal accounts being maintained by the Head teachers. 2.11 Measures taken to rectify a) Inter-district low and uneven utilization of food grains and cooking cost. In Tripura, incidence of inter-district low and uneven utilization of food grains and cooking cost is not felt as the process involved in release of both foodgrains and fund has been streamlined except on occasion of late approval by Finance Department to release fund to the Department and Treasury/Sub-Treasury in passing of AC bills. b) Intra-district mismatch in utilization of food grains and cooking cost. Utilization of surplus rice of previous allotment lying accumulated in some of the state food go-downs may result in intra- district mismatch in utilization of food grains and cooking cost in the state. Attempt is being made to stop lifting of rice from the godown until and unless the previous surplus stock of rice is fully utilized so that huge surplus of rice may not accumulate. c) Delay in delivering cooking cost at school level. It is a fact that release of fund by Finance Department, re-allocation of fund to the Inspector of schools, preparation and submission of bills to the treasury / sub-treasury offices by the concerned Inspector of Schools and thereafter transfers of MDM fund to the school authority is a long process exercise that requires a fairly long time. It may be added here that, there is always delays in release of fund from the Department to Inspector of schools as it takes considerable amount of time to obtain approval from the State Finance department. And again, there is further delay in placement of fund to the school Authority by the Inspector of schools due to process involved for passing of AC bills in the Treasury/Sub-Treasury. To avoid any disruption in MDM programme and delays in release of fund by the Inspector of schools to school Authority, it is proposed to short circuit the system of release of fund by GOI like that of SSA and RMSA so that no interruption takes place in the implementation mid day meal for delays of fund.

2.12 Details of Evaluation studies conducted and summary of its findings. The Tripura University has been requested to undertake evaluation study of MDM Scheme in the State as advised by the MHRD. However, report is yet to be submitted. 8

2.13 Brief writes up on best practices followed in the State. The State has taken up some innovative measures to further improve the effectiveness of the feeding programme in the State. For example, the State Govt. has decided to construct dining hall for the school children to take mid-day-meal comfortably with fund out of state budget. In some of the selected schools, construction of dining hall has already been completed. Kitchen garden though is yet to gain popularity however have started in a few schools of the state. This may also be cited as one of the best practices that the State Govt. has initiated. The cabbage, potato, tomato, bringer, radish etc. grown in the kitchen garden are being used to cook and serve more nutritious food to the school children. This practice will be replicated in other schools also in a phased manner. Besides these practices, the State Govt. has also introduced school calendar and MDM mothers Visit Book which has been made mandatory for all schools to ensure physical presence of selected mothers on all school days and record their views in the register about the quality of food being served to the children under the scheme. Moreover, engagement of organizer or SHG wherever available by the Panchayat to run the feeding programme at school level is a unique practice which on the other hand ensures transparency in implementing the programme. MTAs, guardians time to time contributes vegetables and meat so that the children can savor their meal. 2.14 Instances of unhygienic food served, children falling ill, sub-standard supplies , diversion / misuse of resources, social discrimination and safety measures adopted to avoid recurrence of such incidents. Almost all the eligible schools of the State have been provided adequate infrastructure, furniture, utensils for safe storage of food ingredients and for serving & cooking purposes with the fund of central assistance as well as state fund. On the other hand the cooks have been instructed to clean utensils, wash vegetables before cooking. The school authorities are also instructed to properly check the quality of rice before lifting it from the fair price shop. In case the rice is found to be of poor quality and unfit for human consumption, the school should invariably bring the matter to the notice of the rationing authority as well as the Inspector of School concerned. Further, the school authorities are also instructed to use branded and iodized salt and edible oil contained in sealed package to avoid any kind of food contamination and poisoning. No incident of illness after taking mid-day-meal has so far been reported in the state. The students are also advised not to waste food and take food only to the extent they actually need to feed themselves. 2.15 Extent of involvement of NGOs and Civic Body Organizations (CBOs)/PRIs in the implementation and monitoring of the Scheme.

The organizers cooks and SHGs are engaged by the local Goan Panchayat for running MDM programme in different schools. MTA and VECs constituted for supervision and monitoring of MDM programme are either headed or represented by the Pradhan of the local Panchayat body or Ward memberin case of Municipal Council or Nagar Panchayat. Moreover, there are SMCs functioning at state, district and block level each having representatives from Panchayat Samiti, Zilla Parishad, TTAADC, AMC and Nagar Panchayat bodies. 9 2.16 Status of School Health Programme with special focus on provision of micro- nutrients, Vitamin-A, de-worming medicine, Iron and Folic acid, Zinc, and recording of height, weight etc. The State Govt. could not make much progress on this account so far because of fund constraints of the State Govt. because the MDM guideline does not provide for central assistance for this purpose. However, the State Govt. has printed and distributed health cards among all schools. The Health & Family Welfare Department has been requested to take necessary actions under Rural Health Mission for supply of micro-nutrients, Vitamin-A, de-worming medicine, Iron and Folic acid, Zinc and recording of height , weight etc. moreover, the Department has also been requested to conduct health check – up programme in all schools regularly. In their efforts, Health Department has already covered 5 Blocks under West Tripura District and in second phase they have an action plan to cover Dhalai District. 2.17 Steps taken to strengthen the monitoring mechanism in the Block, District and State Level and status of constitution of SMCs at these levels. Status of formation on Standing Committee at village/school/cooking agency level. SMCs have been constituted at state, district & block levels to monitor and supervise implementation of the MDM programme and to take corrective measures as and when required. The District & Block level SMCs are holding meetings to review implementation of the programme periodically and send feedback reports to the School (Education) Department. The VECs and MTAs are actively involved in supervision of the MDM scheme at village and school level to ensure that the programme run smoothly in all schools in their respective areas. Further, in order to strengthen the monitoring mechanism, Dy. Inspectors have been deployed to the district and Inspectorate offices. 2.18 Arrangement for official inspections to MDM centers and percentage of schools inspected and summary of findings and remedial measures.

In the State level meeting conducted by the Principal Secretary of the Department, monthly target for inspection was fixed in the following manner, Principal Secretary- 5 Days, Director of School Education- 5 days, Addl. Director- 5 days, Joint Director- 7 days,DEO- 5 days, SMO- 7 days,Dy. Director- 5 days, Inspector of Schools- 8 days and Dy. Inspector of Schools-10 days. The monthly target for each of the 4 DIETs was 5 schools. The coverage of schools for inspection by Departmental Officers during 2009-10 was 41.21% till 3rd quarter ending. Briefly, the findings of the departmental inspections mostly relate to problems of water, kitchen shed, kitchen device, gas cylinder and price hike of eggs and other commodities. The remedial measures wherever possible were taken up to solve the problems and the issue of provision of drinking water facility was taken up with the concerned department to create the said facility. 2.19. Feedback/ comments in respect of report of Monitoring Institutions designated for your State/ UT to monitor implementation of MDM and action taken thereon. No report of any monitoring institution on implementation of MDM Programme was received by the state for the year 200-10 and so there is no scope for comments / feedback. 10 2.20. Overall assessment of the manner in which implementation of the programme is contributing to the programme objectives and an analysis of strengths and weaknesses of the programme implementation.

All eligible primary schools, primary sections and all eligible children of primary stage have been universally covered under MDM scheme in the state. MDM has been extended to all independent SB Schools of the state w.e.f. 1st July, 2008 and the upper primary sections attached to High and H.S. Schools have also been covered during the year 2009-10. The programme is being implemented effectively in the state with active participation of community, PRI, teachers, mothers and SHG. As a result participation rate of 6-14 years old children in primary education is nearly 100%, the drop-out rate has declined to % at primary stage with retention rate going higher than ever before in the state. The nutritional status of primary school children has also improved. Moreover, the promotion rate as well as the transition rate to upper primary is improving steadily. Strength- Vibrant three-tier Panchayat Raj Institutions, proactive Govt. policy initiatives, responsive and strong public distribution system, statewide rationing network having presence even in remote and interior locations, effective community participation and social auditing. Weakness- Geographical isolation and hilly location of schools communication bottleneck, price hikes of essential commodities, vegetables, eggs, etc. limited resources / financial constraints of the state Govt. 11