The Odisha government has released an SOP to be duly followed for restarting the Mid-Day Meal programme at schools in the State from April this year.
The State School and Mass Education department has shot a letter to the Collectors of all districts informing about the decision to restart serving cooked meals to students of class I to VIII under the PM Poshan scheme from April, 2022 following Covid-19 guidelines.
The government has asked the district level authorities to ensure the following preparedness and precautions are taken beforehand by school management authorities/Central Kitchen Agencies before commencement of the MDM programme from April, 2022,
i) Sanitization of the kitchen sheds
ii) Sanitization and functioning of Hand wash Stations and toilets
iii) Sanitization of utensils and storage containers
iv) Checking the edibility of the available MDM ingredients
It may be strictly ensured that the message of Edibility Test of the available MDM ingredients is carried out in every school by the Head Master to avoid any MDM mishap or food poisoning. This is to be verified and ensured by CRCCs and BEOs in the field.
v) Disposal of damaged MDM stock
Headmasters should furnish damaged report, duly verified and confirmed by the concern CRCC, to the BEO.
vi) Ensure supervision and monitoring
The DEOs, BEOs, and CRCCs should utilize the services of CCHs much before commencement of cooking of hot cooked meal to ensure safety in Mid-day Meal cooking and serving. They should also make random check of Mid-day Meal ingredients before the days of serving meals to prevent any untoward incidents.
vii) Procurement of raw materials under COVID-19 guidelines
viii) Ensure personal hygiene of Cook-cum-Helpers (CCHs)
CCHs should not be allowed to come to school if he/she is suffering from cough, fever and sneezing
ix) Cleanliness and sanitation in kitchen and surroundings areas
xi) Distribution/serving of hot cooked meal
The distribution of hot cooked meal to the school children will need to be done in a staggered manner (from smaller class to bigger class) over a couple of hours in order to adhere to the social distancing norms. However, it is advisable to encourage open air seating with social distancing. In case the meals are served in open spaces/dining halls, necessary markings should be done to guide the children on the seating arrangement.
xii) Monitoring of the Mid-day Meal
School Management Committee/ Parents Teacher Associations should be encouraged to be present during the serving of hot cooked meal to ensure adherence to the COVID-19 protocols amongst the teachers, Cook- cum-Helpers, WSHGs and the school children.
xiii) Distribution of hot cooked meal by Central Kitchen/NGOs
It must be ensured that the agreement between Mid Day Meal and the above mentioned Central Kitchen partners is renewed and up to date before April, 2022. The DEOs shall make a visit to the Central Kitchen site in order to assure the re-functioning of Central Kitchen to provide hot cooked meal to the children
xiv) Weekly Iron Folic Acid (IFA) Supplementations (WIFS) programme in schools
All COVID protocols must be adhered to during receipt and distribution of IFA tablets. Children should be given IFA tablets (Pink tablet for class-I - V and Blue tablet for class VI-X ) on every Monday in their respective classrooms after having hot cooked meal and by adhering to COVID protocols of social distancing. The tablets must be administered under the supervision of the class teachers. The tablets should not be given to children under any medication.