Oppn MLAs worried about SHGs losing out to Akshaya Patra on midday meals

Porvorim: Opposition MLAs on Tuesday rushed to the well of the House to protest over speaker Ramesh Tawadkar not taking up the calling attention on govt allowing Akshaya Patra to provide midday meals to schools in the state. The speaker assured the opposition that the calling attention motion will be allowed on Wednesday.
Leader of the Opposition Yuri Alemao said that six opposition MLAs moved the calling attention over Akshaya Patra supplying midday meals. “I had moved another one for Wednesday but how it was listed for Tuesday,” Alemao said.
Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai said when six members move a calling attention motion, it is a serious issue. He said that former chief minister Manohar Parrikar allowed self-help groups to provide midday meals to schools with the intention to make them self-reliant and the scheme was introduced.
“Akshaya Patra will kill the business of self-help groups. Take up this calling attention. Give us a ruling. Self-help groups are run by Bahujan Samaj and most of them are your cadre,” the Fatorda MLA said.
For the first time in Goa, Akshaya Patra Foundation will supply midday meals to 5,000 students from govt and govt-aided schools within a 40km radius of Saligao. The schools falling in Bardez, Tiswadi, Bicholim and Pernem talukas will be the first to receive the midday meals from the Akshaya Patra kitchen.
Chief minister Pramod Sawant inaugurated Akshaya Patra’s kitchen at the disaster management centre in Saligao at a cost of Rs 3 crore.