Mid Day Meal is the state-wide programme associated with elementary level students which is beneficial to students all over the state. There are lots of stakeholders associated with MDM program from school level at ground to District magistrate at the Top level including committees from School level to District Level .
Duties and responsibilities of the Project Director, District Magistrate and other Nodal Officers & Monitoring Mechanism in Mid-Day-Meal programme.
Part:-A
Mid-Day-Meal (MDM) is one of the largest flagship programme in the country. In West Bengal, School Education Department is the Nodal Authority to implement the MDM programme. The District Magistrate is the District Nodal Officer of MDM programme in his jurisdiction. He and his other subordinate authorities such as SDOs and BDOs are mainly responsible for implementation of the programme. Similarly District Inspectors of schools, Primary & Secondary, along with their field level officials are responsible for day to day monitoring of the programme.
Stages of Mid-day Meal Implementation:-
a) Drawal of fund and lifting of food-grains and arranging distribution of the same to each and every school.
b) Supply of cooked mid day meal to school children between Pre-primary to Class VIII in all eligible schools across the State.
c) Monitoring of the overall implementation of the programme.
d) Submission of reports and returns as per Govt. norms.
Duties and responsibilities of Project Director, Mid-day Meal:-
The Project Director, is the CEO of the Mid-day Meal programme at State Level. The duties and responsibilities of the Project Director are as follows:
1) Overall supervision and monitoring of the programme at the State Level.
2) Collection of report, returns etc. from all the District Magistrates and other implementing agencies for onward submission.
3) Allocation of fund and food grains to the districts under various heads under Mid-Day-Meal with the approval of the School Education Department.
4) Maintenance and liaison with Govt. of India as well as with the districts for proper coordination and smooth implementation of the programme in the State.
5) Maintenance of liaison and coordination with FCI, State Food & Supplies Department and other related agencies.
6) Engagement of agencies at State Level for inspection of implementation of the programme including the quality aspect.
7) Engagement of agencies at the state level for proper monitoring of the programme through a web-based software.
8) To investigate failures or malpractices in implementation of the programme and to advise the State Govt. to take remedial action.
9) Publication of reports, handouts and other forms of advertisements for smooth implementation of the programme in the State and for creation public awareness of the programme.
10) To contest legal cases arising out of the MDM and to advise the State Govt. on follow up action.
11) Any other measures for smooth implementation of the programme with the approval of the State Govt.
Duties and responsibility of District Magistrate/Commissioner of KMC (for KMC school/Chairman DPSC, Kolkata/ Executive Director, GTA.
i) To receive the fund and food-grains allotted for the programme and arrange for distribution of the same to every school with the help of the SDOs and BDOs as per requirement at least one month in advance;
ii) To ensure that all eligible schools, newly constituted Govt. integrated schools under BRGF and model schools are brought under MDM programme;
iii) To ensure smooth flow of fund and food-grains throughout the year in his district;
iv) To ensure full lifting of good quality of allotted food-grains within valid date in close obedience to quality control measures;
v) To ensure that regular monitoring is done at all levels so that the programme is implemented smoothly as per Govt. guidelines ;
vi) To ensure that District Steering-cum-Monitoring Committees (SMC) are properly formed and their meetings held once every month and follow up action taken on the basis of decisions arrived at the meeting;
vii) To send feedback of all District SMC meetings to the State Government by 15th of each month for the preceding month in the proforma enclosed (Annexure-C).
viii) To ensure that reports and returns including Quarterly Progress Reports (QPR), Report on Lifting and Payment of food grains to the FCI, Annual Work Plan & Budget (AWP&B) etc. duly signed are necessary to send to the PD, MDM as per proforma already circulated.
a. Monthly food grain consumption report, Monthly report on expenditure & Monthly report on payment of food grains to FCI (Annexure-D), Monthly School Inspection Report (Annexure-B), Monthly report on SMC meetings (Annexure-C) are also necessary to send to the PD, MDM online, as per schedule given below:-
Report To be sent by QPR
April-June By 20th July
July-September By 20th October
October-December By 20th January
January-March By 20th April
Monthly rice consumption report By 15th of each month for the preceding month
Monthly report on expenditure By 15th of each month for the preceding month
Monthly report on SMC meetings By 15th of each month for the preceding month
Monthly monitoring and inspection report By 15th of each month for the preceding month
Monthly report on payment of food grains to FCI By 15th of each month for the preceding month
Annual Work Plan & Budget By 15th February every year for next year
ix) A compiled monthly report has been developed online in this regard and required to upload data in time.
x) To ensure that due publicity of the MDM programme is done through various modes of public communication so that the implementing agencies as well as the public become aware of the detail of the MDM programme and get maximum benefit out of it;
xi) To ensure that the grievance redressal mechanism is in place and operational;
xii) To arrange for external evaluation of the MDM programme;
xiii) To ensure convergence with the programmes like NREGA, TSC, Fishery, SGSY, Development fund etc. for better implementation of the MDM programme;
xiv) To ensure that Audit queries are met in time;
xv) He should also ensure that MDM is run in every eligible school uninterrupted;
xvi) To ensure that adequate water connection is made in every school with the help of the other line Departments, implementing rural water supply scheme;
xvii) To monitor construction/repairing of kitchen sheds as per allotment;
xviii) To organize training for cooks by experts for ensuring clean and hygienic varied menu as per local tests and customs;
xix) To ensure monthly payment to FCI against supply of rice/wheat as per bills to be raised by FCI with supporting documents;
xx) To ensure payment of transport rebate to the distributors and dealers of MDM timely;
xxi) To engage SHGs for cooking of MDM wherever such SHGs are available and ensure timely payment of honorarium to cook cum helpers as per approved rates;
xxii) To ensure regular inspection and monitoring of the programme through field level functionaries and regular compilation of report at Block, Municipal, Subdivision and District levels through computerization and internet facilities;
xxiii) To ensure that the line Department officials specially the officers of School Education Department, Health Department and Food & Supplies Deptt. are fully associated with the programme as per Govt. circulars;
xxiv) To ensure all the above noted duties and responsibilities a well managed and adequately manned modern office is run (MDM Cell) at the Collectorate equipped with computers and broadband facilities. He is also to ensure continuity of tenure of the officer in-charge of the MDM and other dealing assistants to avoid disruptions in the system.
Duties and responsibilities of SDOs :-
The SDO is the Nodal Officer of MDM in his Sub-division. The MDM fund and food-grains are distributed through him to the municipalities under his jurisdiction;
Hence, it is his duty to ensure that all the responsibilities relating to MDM implementation as noted above are shouldered by him under his jurisdiction and all reports as noted above for the Subdivision are sent to the District Magistrate in time so that the District Magistrate can get regular feedback from him.
Duties and responsibilities of BDO/Chairman of Municipality:-
1) BDO /Chairman is the Nodal Officer of MDM for his Block/Municipality.
2) To ensure that fund and food-grains are delivered to every school under his jurisdiction well in advance so that the MDM programme can continue uninterrupted.
3) To ensure that the supervising officers under his jurisdiction, including the School Education Department Officials such as AIs and SIs, visit schools regularly and give feedback related to the scheme in time;
4) To ensure submission of monthly food-grains report, utilization certificate, inspection reports, annual work plans etc. and the monthly report to the District Magistrate/SDOs in time;
5) To ensure that all grievances and complaints are noted in log book and redressal measures are taken as soon as possible.
6) To ensure that Display Boards containing necessary information as per direction of the School Education Department vide Memo No. 94-SE(Plng)/MDM-01/2010 dt: 01.03.2010 are in place at all eligible institutions.
(Annexure-E).
7) To ensure the required convergence with related departments in his/her jurisdiction and to see MDM is not discontinued in any school.
8) He/ She will visit at least 20 Schools in his /her jurisdiction and submit report to the SDO by 20th of every month in the enclosed proforma. (Annexure – B )
The duties and responsibilities of the District Magistrates are practically replicated in the case of SDOs and BDOs under their respective jurisdiction;
Duties and responsibilities of DIs (PE/SE) of schools:-
1. As the School Education Department is the Nodal State Department for implementation of the MDM programme in West Bengal, every official of the School Education Department is duty bound to associate himself with the implementation of MDM programme.
2. The DI, being the principal Departmental officer in the district, has the responsibility to see that all the AIs and SIs, under him regularly visit the schools and monitor running of MDM at their respective levels and submit report to him in the proforma enclosed at (annexure-B) regularly and brief the District Magistrate on the inspections and suggest appropriate measures for smooth running of the programme.
3. To review the functioning of the programme regularly at his level with his departmental officers and ensure that all the eligible schools are covered by the MDM programme as per Govt. norms.
4. To ensure that, in case of repeated non-compliance/violation of Govt. orders/circulars, action is initiated against the errant school failing to implement the programme, including recommendation for stoppage of grant- in-aid.
5. To ensure submission of monthly monitoring report to the Secretary, School Education Department by the 15th of every month as per proforma (Annexure – B) with copy to the District Magistrate, Commissioner of School Education, Commissioner, KMC/Executive Director, GTA as the case may be.
6. To personally attend the District Steering-cum-monitoring Committee meeting and ensure that all official attend the respective SMC meetings at Sub Divisional and Block levels regularly.
The Commissioner, Directorate of School Education is to ensure that all School Education Department officials perform their duties in respect of MDM effectively and regular super check is conducted by the School Education Directorate officials to ensure that the instructions of the State Government are being properly carried out.
Duties and responsibilities of AIs of schools:-
The School Education Department has created a post of AI in every Block for effective monitoring of MDM. It is his responsibility to visit the schools regularly and submit monitoring report as per proforma (Annexure – B) to the respective SDOs and the DIs of the district every month by 5th working day of the succeeding month. He is
also to ensure that the SIs posted in his block regularly visit schools and give feedback to him as well as to the BDOs as per Govt. circulars. He is to personally attend the SMC meetings at the Sub-Divisional level. He is also to report against school persistently failing to arrange for supply of Mid Day Meal to the DI including recommendation for stoppage of grant-in-aid.
Duties and responsibilities of SIs of schools:-
SIs of School Education Department supervise the MDM programme at the grass root level. They will visit the schools, monitor the MDM programme implementation, suggest corrective measures and submit feedback to the AIs and BDOs as per Govt. circulars. In case of failure to supply Mid Day Meal, it is his/her responsibility to instruct the school in writing to start MDM immediately. The SI will visit the defaulting school for compliance, failing which appropriate action against the School may be taken by the Govt. In case the school still fails to arrange supply of MDM within the stipulated period the SI will have to report the matter to the DI, AI and BDO forthwith for taking appropriate action against the school. The SI will also inform the concerned school level MDM Committee to improve the system.
Duties and responsibilities of VEC and MC and School Level Committee:-
The VEC and the MC monitor the MDM programme in the school/s in their jurisdiction. This Committee ensures the participation of the parents and the community in this programme. They will engage the SHG groups following the norms prescribed. They will also ensure that one of the members counter signs the monthly statement/bill to be submitted to the BDOs for payment. They will also ensure the proper storage, quality of the food, its varied menu, maintenance of hygienic conditions of the kitchen shed etc. and keep in close touch with the head master of the school and the visiting Govt. officials. They may encourage the SHG
groups involved in cooking, to develop kitchen garden for betterment of MDM.
Duties and responsibilities of Head Master/Head Mistress/ Teacher In-charge of schools:-
1. Head Master/Head Mistress/Teacher In-charge is the pivotal person in running MDM in the school to ensure uninterrupted running of the programme at his/her institution. In case of shortage of supply of food-grains/cooking cost he is to inform the SI / Block/Municipality/corporation/Council authority of
the fact without any delay.
2. To ensure that good quality food is served to the children and the act of cooking, serving and eating is done in a spirit of togetherness under hygienic condition and in an orderly manner, so that the entire process of MDM is carried out efficiently and completed within 30-40 minutes.
3. To ensure that food prepared for MDM is tasted by one TIC and one cook before it is served to the children. 4. To ensure stress on maintenance of hygiene safety measure and quality of the cooked food as per norms fixed by the Department.
5. To suggest the SHG/Cook-cum-helper the importance of variety of food items and its nutritional aspects. Regular supervision from his/her end is necessary.
6. He/she may utilize the service of any of the teachers/staff of his/her school rotationally.
7. He/she is also to assess the number of children present in the school and number of children who will take MDM so that the SHG members cook only the required quantity food for MDM on a particular day.
9) He/she will also counter sign the monthly statement/bill submitted by the SHG and place it in a meeting convened by the School Level Committee for approval before submitting it to the respective BDOs for payment of the same.
10) He/she will submit Self Declaration report to the BDO every month.
11) To ensure that a Board displaying some mandatory information as noted below about the Scheme is maintained and it is updated regularly.
A) Number of students present in the school on that day;
B) Number of students taking MDM on that day;
C) The menu of the day;
D) Quantity of rice used that day;
E) The balance stock of rice on that day;
F) Details of Cooking Cost and Honorarium as approved by the Government being paid to members of Cook-cum-helpers/ SHGs ;
G) The name and telephone number of local BDO;
H) The name and telephone number of SI of school.
Duties and responsibilities of Education Supervisors:- The role of contractual Education Supervisors is also important to get regular feedback direct from the schools. They will ensure daily monitoring at the school level and send report to the SI of schools as per guideline issued from the office of the Project Director, Mid-day Meal from time to time.
