Patna, July 24: The government has decided to hire the services of an NGO to improve the free lunch scheme at schools in the wake of the midday meal tragedy in Saran.

The education department would take the help of NGO Akshaya Patra to distribute freshly cooked, healthy meal to students. The organisation, which provides meals to students across nine states and 20 locations in government schools, would start its Bihar operations from Patna and Muzaffarpur on a trial basis.

Education department principal secretary Amarjeet Sinha said: “The organisation will construct a centralised kitchens at the two places at an estimated cost of Rs 14 crore to provide meals to one lakh children in government schools on a trial basis.”

The department has also issued several guidelines regarding implementation of the midday meal scheme in the state.

One of the guidelines mentions taking the service of a deputy development commissioner to inspect the midday meal scheme if the official visits the village to inspect Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act project. Moreover, the sub-divisional officers have been asked to hold monthly meetings of block principals to inform them about cleanliness and hygiene in schools, particularly at school kitchen sheds where the food is prepared.

Inspectors and other senior police officers have been directed to take action against anti-social elements found moving around the school premises.

For cooks, teachers and principals, the department has issued a strict circular urging them to test the food before serving it to children. Action would be taken against people flouting norms. The school management committee, which supervises the midday meal schemes at various schools, have been asked to use Agmark certified edible oil, spices and salt and the panel has been ordered to keep a bill of the purchase.