P .S. Walia
Kapurthala, April 12
- Emphasises on need of continuous health check-up of children in schools
Punjab State Food Commission member Vijay Dutt today visited Kapurthala district and directed the administrative officials to ensure eligible beneficiaries should be given the benefits of government welfare schemes. He also inspected the quality of food being served to the students in the government schools and Anganwadi centre’s besides checking the distribution of Ration at depots.
During a meeting with Additional Deputy Commissioner (Development) Paramjit Kaur and heads of other departments at DAC, member Food Commission ordered to display boards in Punjabi, Hindi and English mentioning the Commission’s grievance redressal helpline number 98767-64545 at every depot.
Officials of the District Food and Civil Supplies Department apprised Dutt that there are about 117,225 beneficiaries in the district, out of which 90 % have received the wheat and orders have been issued to distribute wheat only in the presence of an food supply inspector.
Dutt also visited Government Schools and Anganwadi centers at Dhaliwal Dona and Wadala Kalan to check the quality of food being served to the children under Mid-Day Meal scheme.
Taking serious note of some quality issue with the food and it’s storage in schools , Member said that the food commission would not tolerate any compromise on food quality. Some samples of food also taken by the health department on the direction of the commission which would be sent for testing .
Meanwhile, he directed the Health department to conduct health examination of every school student every 6 months, especially to diagnose diseases related to teeth.
He instructed the education department to provide hygienic food to the children by taking full care of cleanliness while preparing and serving food to the children.
During his visit to the Anganwari center at Wadala Kalan, he interacted with the children and Anganwadi workers to take stock of the quality of food being provided to the children.
He also said that banners should be put up in every school, depot and Anganwadi center for public awareness so that people could become aware of the facilities available there.
