MDM okayed under Mass Education Department

BHUBANESWAR: The State Government on Tuesday named the School and Mass  Education Department (SME) as the nodal agency to implement the mid-day meal (MDM) scheme.A proposal to transfer the MDM scheme from Women and Child Development (WCD) to SME Department was approved by the State Cabinet here. “The decision of the Cabinet to transfer the scheme will be effectiveimmediately,” Chief Secretary BK Patnaik told mediapersons after the meeting presided over by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. An officer of the SME Department would be nominated to draw funds meant for  the MDM, Patnaik said adding that earlier the funds for MDM scheme were made under the WCD Department’s budget for 2010-11. The decision regarding the scheme came a day after about 17 students of a government-run primary school in Malkangiri district were taken ill after eating mid-day meal. Condition of two students was stated to be critical. The incident took place at Digal UP School in Kalimela when first the batch of 17 students aged between 6 and 11 took the meal. However, the other feeding programme by the anganwadi centres for pre-school children will continue to be with the WCD Department, Patnaik said.The annual administrative report of the Lokpal for 2010-11 was approved in the Cabinet. The report will be placed in the ensuing monsoon session of the Assembly. The Cabinet approved convening of the Monsoon session from August 17.The Chief Secretary said the Cabinet directed all the departments to implement the recommendations of the Lokpal.According to the report, 1,156 cases were  pending with the Lokpal till March 31, 2010. During the period from April 1, 2010 to March 31, 2011, Patnaik said, 646 cases were either referred or taken up by the Lokpal. The Chief Secretary said the Lokpal had disposed of 347 cases and recommended different departments to take action in 72 cases.  BK Patnaik, however, said a proposal for regularisation of services of foresters and forest guards was deferred to the next meeting. The issue will be referred to the Law Department for its opinion.Sources maintained that regularisation of services of foresters and forest guards who were appointed on contract would give rise to demands from contract employees of other departments.