The quality of food served in schools under the Midday Meal Scheme continues to remain poor across the state.

Cases of cooking of poor quality meals in unhygienic conditions, inadequate and poor quality of infrastructure in terms of kitchen sheds and utensils were rampant across all states exposing children to health hazards, reports said.

A memorandum of understanding (MoU) has been signed with 15 NGOs in the state for setting up a centralized kitchen for providing midday meals to the students. The agreement has come into effect from 01.11.2019 to 31.12.2021 and will be renewed every year based on the performance of the NGOs.

Meanwhile, the midday meal workers have continued their protests against the distribution of midday meals in the schools by NGOs. A memorandum of understanding (MoU) has been executed with 15 NGOs in the state for setting up centralised kitchen.

Reports said there were several complaints of poor quality meal cooked by few NGOs which are engaged in cooking for schools in the state.