Ambala: Punjab has 19,557 schools and Haryana 14,210 schools covered under the PM-POSHAN (mid-day meal) scheme, but the Centre has not disclosed how many are registered with the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) or set a deadline for ensuring mandatory registration.The information came in response to an unstarred question raised by Ambala MP Varun Chaudhry in the Lok Sabha on Monday. Chaudhry had sought state/UT-wise details of schools serving mid-day meals under PM-POSHAN, the number registered with FSSAI and the timeframe for bringing all schools under mandatory registration.Replying on behalf of the education ministry, minister of state Jayant Chaudhary said education is a subject on the Concurrent List and implementation of the PM-POSHAN scheme is the responsibility of state govts and Union Territory administrations.He said the Centre had issued detailed guidelines on food quality, safety and hygiene, while states and UTs impart food safety training to cooks-cum-helpers in collaboration with FSSAI and other institutions.However, while the ministry attached a state/UT-wise list of schools covered under PM-POSHAN, it did not provide the number of FSSAI-registered schools or specify any timeline for ensuring mandatory registration.According to the annexure, the scheme covers 12.8 lakh schools nationwide. Uttar Pradesh has the highest number at 1.4 lakh, followed by Madhya Pradesh (87,492), Maharashtra (85,206), West Bengal (81,012), Bihar (68,899) and Rajasthan (68,239). Punjab has 19,557 schools under the scheme, while Haryana has 14,210.Reacting to the reply, Chaudhry said the Centre had failed to answer the specific questions raised in Parliament.“The question was specific, but the reply is not. Registration is compulsory under Section 31 of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, yet many schools have not even applied for registration,” he said.The MP said FSSAI registration was a legal requirement for food establishments and essential to ensure hygienic and safe meals for children studying in govt and govt-aided schools.“In order to prepare and supply hygienic meals to the young citizens of India, registration needs to be completed at the earliest. The laws and rules need to be followed by the citizens and the government alike. There cannot be double standards when it comes to food safety,” he added.
