Delhi's Mid-Day Meal Woes: NGOs in Hot Water for Hygiene Violations

The Municipal Corporation of Delhi may blacklist six NGOs for hygiene violations in mid-day meal kitchens for primary schools. Inspections revealed rats, expired grains, inadequate portions, and missing safety measures. Fines were imposed and NGOs face possible exclusion from future tenders if issues persist.

The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) is considering blacklisting six NGOs responsible for preparing mid-day meals for its primary schools after inspections revealed severe hygiene violations in several kitchen facilities, a senior official announced on Tuesday.

Fourteen NGOs currently cater to around 1,514 MCD-run schools through centralised kitchens spread across Delhi's twelve zones. While some zones have exclusive supplier arrangements, others operate multiple entities. During recent inspections, six NGOs were cited for egregious breaches of hygiene and operational standards, which included the presence of rats and rat waste in kitchens, skimped meal portions, and non-functional water purification systems, among various other infractions.

The violations have resulted in fines and show-cause notices, signaling potential blacklisting if rectifications are not made. Inspections indicated that infractions were systemic, with examples including a kitchen in South Zone misguidedly storing food items among pest infestations, utilizing LPG cylinders due to non-operational equipment, and storing expired grains. The NGOs have been fined cumulatively, with repeated warnings, while their future involvement in tender processes remains uncertain without corrective action.

(With inputs from agencies.)