By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, April 11: An RTI application filed by activist Enlang Sawian has exposed widespread mismanagement in the implementation of the mid-day meal (MDM) scheme across government and state-assisted schools in Meghalaya.
In a detailed representation addressed to Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma, the RTI activist alleged systemic failures that not only undermine the objectives of the MDM scheme but also jeopardize the health and educational development of the state’s schoolchildren.
The MDM scheme, under the centrally-sponsored PM-POSHAN programme, is a flagship initiative aimed at combating classroom hunger and improving nutritional levels among school-going children.
With the central government contributing 90% of the funds and the state bearing the remaining 10%, the scheme is meant to ensure that children in government and aided schools receive nutritious meals on a daily basis.
However, documents obtained through the RTI request, paint a disturbing picture of its ground-level execution in Meghalaya.
According to the documents obtained by Sawian, many schools, particularly in rural areas, are grossly violating the guidelines of the scheme.
“There are schools that provide MDMs only twice a month,” the activist noted.
“In some shocking cases, meals were distributed just once in an entire year. There are some schools where no meals are provided at all, with authorities blaming logistical challenges for the failure,” he stated.
Even more troubling is the reported disregard for the prescribed meal menu curated by the North East Slow Food and Agrobiodiversity Society (NESFAS), a partner organisation tasked with ensuring food quality and nutritional diversity.
The RTI findings reveal that the menu is seldom followed, leading to insufficient nutritional value in the few meals that are distributed.
Sawian emphasized that this neglect not only violates the rights of children but also directly affects their physical well-being and ability to focus in class.
“The very spirit of the MDM scheme is being trampled upon,” he wrote in his representation to the CM.
“Children who depend on these meals for basic nutrition are being failed by the system,” he added.
The activist urged the state government to take immediate and decisive action, calling for the formation of an independent investigative committee to probe the matter thoroughly.
He also stressed the importance of holding accountable those managing committees and school authorities who have failed in their duties or misused their positions.