HC seeks reply from state on PIL regarding hike of mid day meal budget

Ahmedabad: The Gujarat High Court today sought reply from the state government on a PIL questioning the quality of the mid day meal prepared for school children and the meager and insufficient budget of only Rs 4.17 per children allocated for it.

The PIL also sought a stay on the resolution of the state government regarding the handing over of the responsibility of the handling of the scheme to NGO’s and other private parties.

The Division bench of Chief Justice R Subhash Reddy and Justice V M Pancholi fixed September 21 as the next date of hearing on the PIL filed by advocate and activist K R Koshti.

The PIL pointed out that the budget for the mid day meal scheme per children was only Rs 4.17, with which even 100 gm of milk or an egg can’t be bought. It was insufficient to provide nutritious meal to the school children.

The petitioner also argued that in its May 2016 order the Supreme court had included the scheme in the Food Security Act. It has instructed the state governments to provide eggs and milk at least thrice every week under the scheme. He pleaded that the court should instruct the government to increase the budget for the scheme.

Requesting the court to stay the resolution of the state government to hand over the scheme to private parties and NGOs, the petitioner also argued that if it is not done then the state government would say that it was not its responsibility.

DeshGujarat