New Delhi: The National Human Rights Commission(NHRC) has recommended that eggs and milk should be introduced as a part of mid-day meal scheme all states since the food served in these mid-day meal schemes and Integrated Child Development(ICDS) does not adequately provide the protein as the standard requirement.
In a conference held this Friday by the NHRC on the implementation of the National Food Security Act, 2013 the commission suggested the State Government and the Ministry of Women and Child Development to introduce the same in order to give a complete balanced rich diet.
The Integrated Child Development(ICDS) intents to provide the supplementary nutrition separately additional to the meals provided at schools through various anganwadi centres to children below 6 years, including women, pregnant and lactating mothers.
Speaking at the conference NHRC chairperson Justice H L Dattu said, “Malnutrition continues to haunt India despite economic growth and these are the two biggest nutrition programmes. We would like to know from the state governments whether they have strictly followed Supreme Court orders banning contractors in supplying nutrition under ICDS? Have they made adequate funds available for full implementation of the Maternity Benefit Scheme?”
Non-linking of Adhaar should not be made an exception from providing the mid-day meals to the children said the Commission.
As far as the ICDS scheme is concerned, the commission has suggested that proper food testing facilities should be organized at district levels by all states through Universities, colleges and public health departments.
As far as the mid-day meal scheme is concerned the commission suggested that a third party should be incorporated to conduct the annual evaluation and social audits for each district and the reports from the party should be published on state portals.
The experts strongly advised that cash transfers instead of hot cooked meals should not be encouraged since cash can be used for other expenditure.
The commission instructed the states to improve the infrastructural gaps like Kerala and Tamil Nadu, improvising buildings, kitchens, drinking water supply and toilets within three years through sourcing funds from different schemes and departments.