Teachers in Jogeshwari oppose plan that could make principals liable for mid-day meals

Outside the education officer’s office in Jogeshwari, members of the Maharashtra Rajya Shikshak Sena protested a reported plan that could place legal responsibility for school mid-day meals on principals.

The concern centres on possible Food Business Operator registration or licensing under food-safety rules. JM Abhyankar, MLC from the Mumbai Teachers Constituency, told the Food and Drug Administration commissioner that a licence in a school’s name could leave the principal answerable for the full chain of serving meals, from cooking to distribution.

Teachers said principals do not control the quality of grains and other ingredients supplied by the government. Schools already maintain food records, monitor quantity and quality, keep cooking spaces and utensils clean, provide drinking water, and serve meals in clean surroundings. Cooking is generally done by appointed workers.

Guidelines also require parents to taste food before it is served, while school management committees and principals check meal quality. Abhyankar suggested district- or taluka-level tenders for NGOs to run the programme, or assigning responsibility to school management committees where that is not possible.