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- By Kamakshi Bishnoi
- Fri, 07 Nov 2025 10:13 AM (IST)
- Source:Jagran News Network
The Municipal Corporation of Delhi has issued show-cause notices to NGOs operating mid-day meal kitchens after receiving complaints of irregularities in food quality and hygiene at MCD schools. The notices seek clarification on why proper hygiene protocols are not being followed during food preparation.
The action comes after MCD Education Committee Vice-Chairperson Amit Kharkhari conducted a surprise inspection of a kitchen in the Narela Zone, where several items, including salt, were found to be past their expiry date.
A senior MCD official said responses have been demanded from agencies running kitchens in the Narela, Shahdara North and Central Zones. While Kharkhari inspected the Narela Zone, the Additional Commissioner and Director of Education inspected the Central Zone facilities.
During the Central Zone inspection, officials noticed the absence of mandatory pest control records and found the waste disposal system to be improper. The condition of the kitchen and surrounding ration storage areas also failed to meet cleanliness standards. Officials have warned that strict action will be taken if rules continue to be violated during surprise inspections.
Kharkhari further revealed that some of the agencies supplying meals have been blacklisted by both the Delhi government and the corporation in the past. “We are investigating why such agencies are still associated with MCD’s mid-day meal work,” he said.
He added that in every zone, a school principal is responsible for daily kitchen monitoring. However, the three to four hours required for the process often leads to checks being skipped.
Nearly 6.6 lakh children study in 1,500 MCD schools, where mid-day meals are supplied by 14 voluntary organisations operating 18 kitchens across the city.