City NGOs catering to govt schools under scanner for mid-day meals

MEERUT: A day after Food Safety and Drugs Administration’s (FSDA) report found the presence of banned substances in the mid-day meals at a primary school in Khanpur, samples were taken from the NGOs involved in the preparation of these meals.
On the orders of the district magistrate, samples were taken from as many as 10 such organizations after the mid-day meal in the school was found with banned chemicals like dye and carcinogens in the spices and condiments used in the meals.
“On the instructions of district magistrate Pankaj Yadav, we have taken samples of the10 NGOs which cook and supply to UP schools. We want to ensure that no adulteration is taking place at the grass root level,” said J P Singh, chief food safety officer, Meerut district.
“The samples have been sent to the laboratory in Lucknow. We are expecting the results to come out in a month’s time after which stringent action will be taken against the ones flouting norms,” added Singh.
Samples of kofta-chawal, besan, veg kofta, turmeric powder, chilli powder, daliya, milk, and barfi were taken. These NGOs are responsible for catering mid-day meals to the children in the city’s government aided schools. The mid-day meals at schools in rural areas are made by panchayats.
The NGOs that came under scanner were Gramin Vikas Seva Sansthan (Baghpat),Saghan shetra Vikas Samiti (Mawana), Shri Balaji Samajik Vikas Samiti (Sardhana), Himalayan Institute of Pollution Controlo and Social Economic Development (daurala), Royal Manav Mitra Seva Samiti (Garh Road), Subharti Jan Kalyan Samiti (Kankerkhera), Shyam Gram Udyog Sansthan (Madhavpuram), Navjivan Educational and Social Welfare (Madhavpuram), Vaishnav Aman Dairy (Madhavpuram) and Jain Sweets (Phoolbag Colony).