Mumbai: BMC education committee flags poor rice quality in midday meals at civic schools

Priyank Raut inspects a midday meal served to a student at Kandivli’s Bandarpakhadi Mumbai Public School. Pic/By Special arrangement

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) education committee members questioned the quality of raw rice used to prepare midday meals served at civic schools. Members claimed that principals had raised concerns about the quality of khichdi served to students, but the problem started with the foodgrain itself.

Quality concerns

Pic/X/@KishoriPednekar

The issue was also raised by Opposition leader Kishori Pednekar, who claimed that there were several problems, ranging from the quality of grain used in school meals to alleged irregularities in their supply chain. "The rice used for preparation of khichdi has broken grain and other impurities," alleged Pednekar, calling for laboratory tests and urging the civic body to look into the matter.

Corporators alleged...

>> Subpar cooking and taste
>> Undercooked vegetables
>> Hair in food
>> Cases of pebbles in cooked rice

Supply chain

Certain complaints of pebbles and hair in civic school meals highlight persistent quality control lapses. Representation pics/istock

The discussion also highlighted alleged gaps in the foodgrain supply chain. The issue was first raised by Priyank Raut, Shiv Sena (UBT) member of the Education Committee on Monday. "We often hear principals complain that the quality of khichdi served to children is subpar. Now we know that the problems lie with the foodgrain itself," he said.

Past cases

Rice from an NGO in Borivli. Pic/By Special Arrangement

Raut also presented details of past FIRs in which truck drivers were arrested for allegedly selling midday meal grain elsewhere, while NGOs preparing the khichdi were allegedly supplied with
subpar grains.

School stance

Pic/Instagram/priyankraut_

A BMC school principal from Mumbai
"It is true that schools end up facing issues with their khichdi quality. We often found non-edible grains in our khichdi. However, we changed the organisation preparing our midday meals, and now the problem is resolved."

Official Speak

A BMC official
"We are looking into the issue raised and forming a report on the same, after which the necessary action will be taken. In the meantime, all SOPs are being followed for the midday meal scheme."