Phom Community Development Society will implement MDM in Longleng district
DIMAPUR, NOVEMBER 29 (MExN): Department of School Education (DoSE) signed an MoU with Phom Community Development Society (PCDS), represented by Nuklu Phom, Executive Secretary, Phom Baptist Church Association (PBCA) on November 28 for implementation of the Mid Day Meal (MDM) programme in Longleng district in the presence of Nagaland Chief Secretary Pankaj Kumar.
A press statement issued by Commissioner & Secretary, School Education & SCERT, FP Solo said this is the 2nd MoU the Education Department has made with an NGO for implementation of MDM on Public-Private Partnership (PPP) mode. Earlier in October 2016, the Department had made an MoU with Rev. Dr. Chingmak Chang, Secretary of ECS for Tuensang district.
Chief Secretary Pankaj Kumar lauded the School Education Department for taking the commendable initiative in making use of the inherent asset of the Nagas in implementation of the MDM in Tuensang and Longleng districts. He pointed out that there are formidable challenges in the implementation of the MDM. He also stated there are limitations within the Government system in the delivery of services.
However, some people with missionary zeal like Dr. Rev. Chingmak Chang and Nuklu Phom, there can be a third way of communitisation of Government schemes with involvement of the people, Kumar said. He expressed confidence that the PPP mode can be a more successful model bringing in more efficiency in the delivery of MDM in Tuensang and Longleng districts. The Chief Secretary also requested Nuklu Phom to explore collaboration with other Departments for execution of different programmes and schemes in Longleng district.
Nuklu Phom, Chief Functionary, PCDS, which is a church based NGO working under Phom Baptist Church Association (PBCA) in Longleng district, giving an overview of PCDS, said its approach are diagnostics, prescriptive, preventive and reference measures. The NGO works with 320 Self Help Groups (SHG) in areas like Horticulture, Piggery, Fishery, Community Conservation, Community Health Centre, Morung Education, Micro-Financing and communitisation of land use.
Commissioner & Secretary, FP Solo, in his introductory remarks pointed out that MDM is a centrally sponsored scheme which is being implemented all over the country with a view to improve the nutrition of children and also to attract children to schools. Under the MDM programme, hot cooked meals are to be served to schoolchildren up to elementary level in Government schools for 220 days in a year.
With numerous allegations and complaints pertaining to implementation or non-implementation of MDM in many schools in the State, Solo said, the department faces many challenges in the effective implementation of MDM.
The challenges, according to Solo, include inadequate quantity of food grains and amount provided for purchase of fuel, oil and other cooking materials, delay in the receipt of funds from both the GoI and the State Government, mis-match between receipt of food grains and cooking cost, difficulty in getting separate Cook-cum-Helper due to the meager honorarium compelling teachers to prepare MDM thereby leading to disruption of classes, and food habit of the Nagas is such that no children come to schools on empty stomachs making MDM not an attractive preposition.
