Srinagar: Minister for Education, Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari Friday said government is committed to implement the Mid Day Meal Scheme in letter and spirit and to make it a success in Jammu and Kashmir.
“I consider Mid Day Meals as the priority work for School Education Department and I want its proper management for the better implementation of the scheme,” the Minister said.
He said there is a need to stop teachers from being contractors for Mid Day Meals adding that teachers have a great role to play in imparting education to the students and they need to focus on teaching instead of getting involved in other administrative issues.
Bukhari made these remarks while chairing a meeting to discuss proper implementation of Mid Day Meal scheme which was attended by Minister of State for Education, Priya Sethi; Secretary School Education, Farooq Ahmed Shah; Director School Education (Kashmir), Director School Education (Jammu), Directors of SSA, RMSA and other concerned officials of education department.
The Minister directed the officials to involve NGOs – who have already worked on such projects – to carry out Mid Day Meal scheme. Jammu and Samba districts have been identified for the pilot basis where the scheme will be implemented by NGOs. Based on the success of pilot, the scheme will be full run by NGOs.
On the occasion Priya Sethi raised the issue regarding specially-abled children and observed that there is a need for the establishment of institutes for them.
She said, there is a need to develop at least one educational institute in each district in J&K for specially-abled children where they can study and have a proper hostel facility. She directed the officials to come up with the proper proposal for the establishment of such institution.
