Mysuru, April 22 -- In a bid to improve the quality of food served under the mid-day meal scheme, the Department of School Education and Literacy has issued strict guidelines to ensure cleanliness and hygiene in school kitchens.

Headmasters, headmistresses and School Development and Monitoring Committee (SDMC) members have been directed to personally verify food quality before serving to students.

Schools have also been asked to constitute a separate mothers' committee to oversee food quality. These measures follow a social audit report for the academic year 2023-24, which flagged 12 lapses in the implementation of the scheme.

During a recent virtual meeting between the Union Ministry of Education and State-level officials, new guideli...