Page 17 - Infocus 4 January 2018 _Neat

Goa Analysis

Current Scenario The analysis is based on informal conversations with some journalists in Goa, parents of
children who get Mid-Day Meal in schools, teachers, and people who have a rough idea about
School Timings in Goa Goa At a Glance MDM in the Goan context as they come in contact with schools and children because of their
In Goa, school timings are 08:00 line of work. At the same time, it also includes information published in newspapers and
AM – 01:00 PM, with ‘recess’— telecast on local channels.
typically a 15-minute break—at 1,458,545
around 11:00 AM. So the food that State Population (2011 Census)
is provided as a part of the Mid-Day Political
Meal Programme in Goa is more of 62%
‘snack’ instead of ‘lunch.’ Children Chief Minister’s Take
have the breakfast of their choice Urban (Density: 1771 per sq km) The Chief Minister of Goa, Manohar Parrikar seems enthusiastic about the idea of tying up
at home and return for lunch after with The Akshaya Patra Foundation. However, it has to be noted that he has previously gone
school. As for snacks during their 38% public with the idea, only to go back on his words when the All Goa Mid-Day Meal Federation
recess, children either carry their (AGMDMF) comprising the 105 Self-Help Groups (SHGs) protested. Though 105 is not a big
tiffin box or get pocket money. Rural (Density: 173 per sq km) number, one has to keep in mind that Parrikar is heading a coalition Government.
Snacks are readily available in the
school canteen or in general stores 88% Fragile Coalition
around the school. This is especially Literacy Rate In the 40-member Goa Assembly, BJP has 14 seats, and therefore, it had to tie up with
true in the urban setting. MGP (3 seats) and Goa Forward (3 seats) plus some Independents to form the Government.
0.617 Though traditional allies, BJP and MGP decided to part ways before the 2017 Assemble
Cujira Integrated Educational Consumption based HDI: 0.617 Elections as they could not come to a seat sharing agreement. As for Goa Forward, they were
Complex – Pilot Project Site critical of Parrikar before the elections but decided eventually decided to join the coalition.
The Cujira Integrated Educational (2007-08; 2015 data not available)
Complex, where the Government Fringe Political Groups
plans to start serving Akshaya In addition, the SHGs also have the support of some political groups which do not have
Partra’s mid-day meals on a pilot elected representatives, but have the ability to make some noise by hitting the streets and
basis, has schools which have giving sound bites to local media.
been moved there from the city
of Panjim—the state capital. The Educational Statistics at Glance Mahila Mandals with Political Patronage
children studying in these schools 2015-16 It is also important to note here that some of the mahila mandals involved in MDM feeding
come from well-to-do families from in Goa enjoy political patronage—especially the ones in the interior talukas such as Sattari,
in and around the city and thus, Average area covered by a school Sanguem, and Ponda. They form an important chunk of the vote bank for some ministers in
don’t really need MDM. i) Primary School/Department 3.09 Sq. km. the current Government.
ii) Middle School/Department 8.39 Sq. km.
Scenario in Rural Goa iii) Secondary/Department 9.18 Sq. km. All these factors considered, it is difficult to say that the Government won’t develop cold
In the rural areas, things are feet the next time SHGs threatens to agitate. However, as of now the Chief Minister seems
different. There are areas Average population served by a school positive about the partnership. In fact, on the eve on Teachers’ Day (05/09/2017), he
where children have to walk a i) Primary School/Department 1221 reiterated that providing quality food to students is the core issue of his Government, not the
considerable distance to reach ii) Middle School/Department 3307 welfare of SHGs.
the school. If the schools wind up iii) Secondary School/Department 3619
by 01:00 PM, they take another
hour to walk home. These are the Number of Schools
children who actually need midday No. of Primary Schools (I-IV) 1190
meals and that’s evident from the No. of Central Govt. Primary Schools (I-IV) 5
fact that they don’t waste it. In No. of Middle Schools (V-VII) 434
urban area, in contrast, a lot of food No. of Secondary Schools (V-X/VIII-X) 396
gets wasted. No. of Central Govt. Secondary Schools (V-X) 7

infocus | JANUARY 2018 Page 13 infocus | JANUARY 2018