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EVALUATION OF FORTIFIED MILK PROGRAMME IN TRIBAL TALUKAS
OF BANSKANTHA DISTRICT, GUJARAT
ABSTRACT
Tribals are one of the disadvantaged sections of the society in terms of their social, economic and human
development related indicators through out the country, Gujarat is no exception. To improve their quality
of life several schemes have been devised and implemented. One of such programme is ‘Dudh Sanjevani
Yojana’ implemented by Tribal welfare department of Gujarat. The programme started in February 2007,
aims to provide 200 ml. of milk , to children of first to fifth standard, in all government run schools and
ashramasalas, in two tribal dominated talukas of Banaskantha district, namely Dantha and Amirgadh. The
major objectives TALUKAS of the scheme OF are BANSKANTHA to remove vitamin-A deficiency DISTRICT, of tribal children GUJARAT
and improve their
nutritional status and attracting them to the school system to improve their educational status. Both health
and education are crucial input to (January any human development – July 2008)
related outcome. An evaluation of the
programme was done by Gujarat Institute of Development Research on behalf of Tribal Development
Department of Government of Gujarat, in order to study the efficiency of programme in terms of it’s
implementation, coverage and possible shortcomings, to strengthen the programme and increase the
coverage to other regions. The evaluation is done in selected schools of these two talukas. A total of 36
schools, 36 Midday meal workers, more than 2500 children, 8 route contractors, officials of different
agencies associated with the implementation and several personal interviews constitute the evaluation
methodology. The results show high attendance rate in schools of Dantha and Amirgadh where the FF milk
had been provided. It is identified that the target of the programme was adequately met, as the attendance
rate in schools (for a fifteen day) was Study observed Sponsored as 80 percent. The By programme is seemed capable of
bringing positive social change Department in the society. of The Tribal younger children Development
are happily taking the milk without
any gender constraint. But from the non drinking elder girl children it is identified that discrimination
exists in these areas in providing nutritious Government food like milk to of female Gujarat children. And such discrimination will
not root in the young minds of both sexes due to this kind of programme. If the management and
distribution at school is overlooked by teacher or principal there the programme faced little problems and
hence the study suggests constituting a committee at school level to overlook the activities at school level.
The MDM workers at delivery centres are the Sajitha unhappy ones, OG who spend considerable time without any
additional remuneration to ensure other Rudra designated Narayan schools under Misra their centre gets the milk. There is
difficulty in handling of newly provided insulated milk crates, especially for MDM workers who have to
Harish Joshi
carry them on head, cycles or hired vehicles to inapproachable and far away schools. Dairy has to devise
methods to make the crates user friendly and ensure that crates are properly sanitized at the factory. Like
midday meal, the school teachers should be held accountable for the implementation of the programme. At
Banaskantha dairy, it is found that they have to improve the communication with school teachers and
MDM workers to dispel some of the notions about the quality of milk. The distribution of transportation
charge should be regular for MDM workers. In nutshell this landmark programme will go a long way to
improve the TRIBAL health status RESOURCE of the Tribal children AND of Banaskantha, RESEARCH provided all the CENTRE
stakeholders in the
EVALUATION OF FORTIFIED MILK PROGRAMME IN TRIBAL
programme work as cohesive unit.
GUJARAT INSTITUTE OF DEVELOPMENT
RESEARCH
AHMDABAD
1

EVALUATION OF FORTIFIED MILK PROGRAMME IN TRIBAL TALUKAS
OF BANSKANTHA DISTRICT, GUJARAT
1.1 Background
Banaskantha district is in the northeast of Gujarat state with a population of 25 Lakhs as
per 2001 Census. Even though only 8.2 percent of the district population is scheduled
tribe, 71 percent of it is concentrated in two talukas namely Dantha and Amirgadh. In
both the talukas, 53 percent of total population is scheduled tribe. The basic health
indicators for the district are shown in Table 1.1. The indicators of health and mortality in
Banaskantha district (Table 1.1) stipulate high need of intervention programmes to
improve the health status of the population. The infant and under five mortality in
Banaskantha are very high, 74.80 and 88.96 respectively. The percentage of children
receiving full vaccination was only 31.0 percent even though the state has a target of cent
percentage immunization by 2010 (GOG, 2002). Vitamin A supplementation programme
has been in operation since 1970 in the country, yet the percentage of children received
Vitamin A is very low in Banaskantha district. The percentage of women squeezing first
milk from breast was also noted to be very high in the district.
Table 1.1. Basic Health Indicators, Banaskantha District, Gujarat 2002-04
Indicator
Value
Total fertility rate 2.90
Infant mortality 74.80
Under five mortality 88.96
Crude death rate CDR 5.65
Prevalence - complete blindness $ 286
Prevalence - partial blindness $ 4105
% Squeezed first milk form breast * 61.7
% of children provided Vitamin A Vaccine** 30.3
% of children received full vaccination 31.0
$ Per Lakh Population
* with youngest child born during three year prior to survey
** Includes only last and last but one living child born within three year prior to the
survey and 12-35 months at the time of survey.
Source: RCH Survey, 2002-04.
2

Tribal Development Department of the state government started intervention to improve
the health status of children in two tribal dominated talukas of Banaskantha District
namely Dantha and Amirgadh by providing fortified milk to all schools from class one to
five in Government schools and Ashramsals. It is known as ‘Dudh Sanjivani Yojana’
and was launched on 9 th February, 2007. Under this scheme it is supposed to provide
200ml of fortified milk to more than 50,000 students of 299 primary schools and 26
Ashram schools of these two talukas during all school days. Contents of milk are Fat: 3
gm / Total Carbohydrate: 24 gm / Protein: 7 gm / Vitamin A 500 UL equivalent to 150
meg / Vitamin D 40 UL equivalent to 1 meg / Flavour: Ilaichi or Rose. This scheme
comes under the Mid Day Meal (MDM) Programme, a programme to provide mid day
meal to the primary school children in the country. Under this scheme, cultural diversity
and food habits of Indian population are respected in such a way that the components in
food vary from one state to another depending upon the food habit of the concerned
society.
1.2 An Overview of the programme:
The organisational network is shown in Flow chart 1 below. Milk crates are transported
from Banas dairy to the two distributing centres one each in Dantha and Amirgadh
talukas, in insulated van during early morning. From these two distribution centres route
contractors transport the milk crates to some schools on their routes (here after called as
delivery centres). In all, there are nine routes fixed for transportation of milk. Five of
them are operate from Dantha and the rest from Amirgadh. On each of the routes there
are certain villages where milk crates are delivered and from there MDM organizers /
teachers collect milk for their schools. Time of delivery of milk is noted at each of the
delivery centres in a prescribed form. At the same time, demand for the next day has to
be submitted. Later all figures of demand from each of the routes will be collected and
sent to the distributing centres. From there information is conveyed to the vigilance office
over phone at Palanpur and then the latter conveys the demand of number of milk
pouches for the next day to the dairy and accordingly arrangements are made for the next
day’s supply.
3

Flow Chart 1
ORGANISATIONAL NETWORK
Tribal Sub Plan Office, Palanpur
Vigilance office
Phone
Dairy
Revenue Office, Palanpur
Phone
Main delivery
Dantha Dantha
Dairy van
Main delivery
Dantha Amirghadh
Route Contractors/vehicles
R1
R2
R3
R4
R5
R2
R3
R4
R1
9 D
11 D
10 D
8 D
12 D
8 D
6 D
5 D
6 D
Mid Day Meal Workers
30 S 57 S 36 S 31 S 54 S 38 S 32 S 24 S 25 S
Rn –Route numbers n D – Number of delivery Centres
n S - Number of schools
- Demand of money, - Fund release,
- Two way travel/communication One way travel/communication
1.3 Objective
4

Regular intake of milk is apt to meet the nutritional values of any society; monitoring and
evaluating a program to provide fortified milk to children in tribal areas will enable
program managers to track changes in achieving the goals. The objective of the current
study is to evaluate the coverage of the distribution of fortified milk in schools and
ashram schools of Dantha and Amirgadh.
1.4 Methodology:
We selected 11 percent of schools (to have at least 10 % coverage after edition), i.e., 36
schools from a total of 327 schools for the study. Stratified random sampling procedure
has been adopted for the study. Sampling was done on the basis of 1) Route, 2) number
of packets required per day (which again depends upon the total strength of the school or
size of the school) and 3) mode of transportation from the delivery place to each school.
The sample of 36 schools based on the above first two criteria is distributed in the
following way (Table 1.2) over nine routes of two the talukas.
Table 1.2. Sample Schools
Taluka/
Route No
Size of School
Total
0-100 100-200 200-500
(small) (Medium) (Large)
Dantha Taluka
1 1 1 1 3
2 3 2 1 6
3 1 2 1 4
4 1 1 1 3
5 2 2 2 6
Amirgadh Taluka
1 1 2 1 4
2 2 1 1 4
3 1 1 1 3
4 1 1 1 3
Total 13 14 9 36
schools
to be
covered
The samples are drawn according to the number of children registered for the academic
year 2006-07. Since the survey has been carried out in 2007-08 academic year, some of
the selected schools witnessed a change in the position (in terms of size) due to the
5

increase/decrease in the total strength of the school for that year. Hence during analysis
the size of the schools were reclassified as less than 120 (Small), 120-240 (Medium), and
more than 240 (High). Children of standard 1 to 5 are the only intended beneficiaries of
this fortified milk. To know their view on the whole programme, a personal interview of
the students of grade 3 and 4 with a structured questionnaire was taken during April-May
2008. The interview collects little information related to their backgrounds and whether
they get fortified milk regularly (in all school days) and other problems related to the
scheme. A structured questionnaire was prepared to take the attendance level and milk
provision. Mid day meal worker in each school is responsible for collection and supply
of the milk pouches at school level and hence he was also interviewed to know the field
level strengths and weaknesses of the programme.
1.5 Organization of the Report
A background description of the health status of the populace of Banaskantha District of
Gujarat state where the Fortified Milk Supply is in operation for the first time in the state
and a description of the mode of operation and major stakeholders involved in the process
are given in the first chapter. The background characteristics of the schools, its
attendance levels, and reason for absence are shown in Chapter 2. Third chapter presents
the analysis on the time of distribution, organization of the programme at school,
adequacy/deficiency of the pouches and the preference of children. And the last chapter
describes the perceptions of other major stakeholders namely, Mid Day Meal (MDM)
organizer, Route contactors/drivers, and various Administrative officers directly involved
in the operation of the programme. However, we kept in mind that this report is a part of
an ongoing evaluation; (in which the major component of studying the impact on health
of the children remains) and hence to inform the authorities that the issue involves
correction and cross checking some photographs have also been pasted.
CHAPTER 2
6

BACKGROUND CHARACTERISTICS OF THE SCHOOLS
2.1 Proportion of Tribal Children
The following tables (Table-2.1 and Table-2.2) highlight the characteristics of the
selected schools. In Dantha taluka, 8 out of 24 schools, have less than half of the children
from tribal community. In 13 out of 24 schools, all the children come from tribal
community (Out of these 3 are Ashramsalas) [For details see Table-2.1]. For Amirgadh
it was found that 8 out of 14 schools selected have more than 90 percent children
belonging to scheduled tribes.
Table 2.1: Distribution of sample schools by proportion of tribal children to total strength
of the schools by Taluka and route numbers
Taluka Route 90-100 80-90 70-80 50-70 Less than 50
Dantha 1 - - - - Bakhri,
Toda,
Velwada
2 Umbra,
Sandosi
Ashramsala,
3 Dalpura
Ashramsala
(B & G),
4 Chotta
Vamodara,
Dhagadia,
Jamru,
Udavas
5 Amloi,
Dhareda,
Vanodara
Amirgarh 1 Kansara,
Upplaguda
2 Araniwada,
Sakraveri
3 Ajapur
mota,
Khajuria
Kantivas - - Avapura,
Bhabangarh,
Senkda
- - - -
- - - -
- - Rabarivas Ambaji,
Tarangada
Guda Dhanpura - -
(V)
Deri - - Rahat farm
- - - Sarotra
4 Upplobandh - - - Dabela,
Ramgarh
Source: Primary data from the filed survey.
2.2 Attendance Rate
7

Attendance in the school is important for the success of this programme as nutritional
improvements in health status of children are expected due to the continuous intake of
fortified milk. Following graph shows the average attendance rate in schools of tribal
talukas of Banaskantha district for three periods of five day durations (Day 1 to 5, Day 6 to
10, Day 11 to 15) and for 15 days (Day 1 to 15) prior to the survey by the size of the school.
Figure2.1: Attendance Rate in Schools by the size of the school in tribal talukas of
Banaskantha, 2007.
86.0
84.0
82.0
80.0
78.0
76.0
83.9
82.4 82.2
80.5
85.3
84.1 83.6
81.6
78.1
76.276.4
76.9
81.2
79.6 79.8
78.7
74.0
72.0
70.0
Small Medium Large ALL
Day 1 to 5 Day 6 to 10 Day 11 to 15 Day 1 to 15
Note: 15 th day is the date of interview
The average attendance (calculated from the data of 15 days attendance from school
records) was observed as 80 percentage. Compared to small and medium sized schools
the average attendance of large schools was observed to be low. However, some schools
teachers responded that attendance run low in that particular week due to some ongoing
festival. Hence to get an idea of the decrease in percentage of attendance, the averages
are calculated for three periods of five day durations of Day 1 to 5, Day 6 to 10, and Day
11 to 15 in which 15 th day was the date of interview. From the figure it is clear that
compared to the first five days (Day 1 to 5) selected, the decrease in average during Day
11 to 15 was only 2.5 percentage leaving a difference of 1.4 with the average of 15 days.
8

The average attendance of all categories of school followed more or less the same pattern
irrespective of the size of the school leading to the conclusion that due to the festival, the
percentage of attendance decreased but the decrease is negligible while taking the
attendance rate of 15 working days. Our survey for Dantha was finished one week before
Holi, and in Amirgadh the survey was conducted one week after Holi, to minimize the
effect of holidays on our sample collection.
Coming to the average attendance of the selected schools, it was found that 8 out of 24
schools have more than 90 percent attendance rate in the past 15 days [out of these 8
schools 4 have all the children belonging to the tribal community, including Dalupura
Boys Ashramsala). Only Dhareda school which is also a 100 percent tribal school, in
route-5, taluka Dantha, found to have an average attendance of below 50 percent, during
the previous 15 days before the survey. Except two schools in Amirgadh namely
Upplobandh and Ramgarh (route-4), the remaining 9 out of 14 schools have attendance
rate of 80-90 percent in the last 15 days prior to the survey. However no schools show an
attendance below 50 percent in Amirgadh taluka. [For detail see Table-2.1 and Table-2.2]
However all these figures regarding attendance have been collected from the attendance
register maintained in the respective schools in both the talukas. The average
attendance rate is very crucial for the success of the programme, as children can get milk,
only if they attend schools. In fact one of the major objectives of MDM scheme is to
increase attendance rate in rural and remote schools through the MDM scheme (Dudh
Sanjivani also comes under MDM scheme). So in the schools where average attendance
rate is found to be below 50 percent, one needs to focus on them, because they limits the
scope of realization of maximum benefit, that can be derived from this programme.
The attendance on the day of the survey:
It is observed that barring few of the 36 selected schools; there is discrepancy between
the percent of attendance for last 15 days and the percent of children present in class
rooms on that particular day (for 3 rd and 4 th standard children). That shows large
variation, which is partly to be blamed on the festive seasons and harvests as mentioned
9

earlier. Most of these variations are found in small and remote schools, irrespective of
tribal domination or not. [Please see Table 2.1, 2.2 and 2.3 together for details].
Table 2.2: Distribution of sample schools by average attendance for last 15 working days
including the date of survey
Taluka Route 90-100 80-90 70-80 50-70 Less than
50
Dantha 1 Bakhri Velwada Toda, - -
2 Avapura,
Umbra (T)
3 Dalpura
Ashramsala-
(Boys)
Sandosi
Ashramsala
(T)
Bordiyala
4 - Chotta
Vamodara
(T),
Dhagadia
(T),
5 Amloi (T),
Tarangada,
Vanoda
ra (T)
Amirgarh 1 - Kansara
(T), Guda
Kantivas,
Bhabangarh
Dalpura
(Girls),
Jhumpari,
Kaushiya
Jamru (T)
- -
- -
Udavas
(T)
Ambaji - Rabarivas Dhareda
(T),
Dhanpura
(V),
Upplaguda
(T)
Sakraveri
(T)
-
- -
2 - Araniwada
- -
(T), Deri,
Rahat farm
3 - Ajapur Khajuria -
mota (T), (T)
Sarotra
4 Upplobandh Dabela - - -
(T),
Ramgarh
Source: Primary data from the filed survey. Figures in the bracket emphasis on those
schools where more than 90 percent children are tribals, except for Dalpura.
Table-2.3: Percentage of children present in classes (in 3 rd and 4 th ) on the day of the survey and its variation
from average attendance of past 15 days by schools by route and taluka
10

TALUK
A
Route
no.
Whether Absent/
present on the day of
visit in the class room
School name Present Absent
Regist Percentage
er present on
strengt the day of the
h interview*
Average Difference between
attendanc average attendance
e (15 and that of on
days) interview days
Velwada 23 9 32 71.9 84.83 13.0
Toda 40 21 61 65.6 77.08 11.5
1 Bhankhari 65 13 78 83.3 92.46 9.1
Abhapura 20 6 26 76.9 89.61 12.7
Bhavangarh 14 8 22 63.6 77.88 14.2
Umbara 20 11 31 64.5 93.56 29.0
Senkada 41 19 60 68.3 . -
Sandhosi Ashram. 5 35 40 12.5 87.15 74.7
2 Kantivas 50 38 88 56.8 78.31 21.5
Zufali 9 15 24 37.5 72.42 34.9
Kaushiya 7 38 45 15.6 70.45 54.9
Dalpura Kanya
Ashramsala 21 5 26 80.8 74.66 -6.1
Dalpura
Ashramsala (B) 40 8 48 83.3 91.3 8.0
3 Bordiyala 106 22 128 82.8 89.15 6.3
Udavas 18 9 27 66.7 67.23 0.6
Dhagadia 61 14 75 81.3 88.71 7.4
Chhota Bamodra 37 15 52 71.2 85.25 14.1
4 Zamru 61 28 89 68.5 72.49 4.0
Tarangda 30 18 48 62.5 95.97 33.5
Amloi 26 6 32 81.3 90.04 8.8
Dhareda 27 40 67 40.3 41.48 1.2
Rabarivas (K) 39 11 50 78.0 70.79 -7.2
Ambaji 309 52 361 85.6 83.1 -2.5
5 Banodara 51 13 64 79.7 92.04 12.4
Uppalghoda 16 23 39 41.0 67.13 26.1
Guda 38 9 47 80.9 81.02 0.2
Kandara 63 6 69 91.3 83.42 -7.9
1 Dhanpura (V) 56 58 114 49.1 52.1 3.0
Rahatfarm 32 0 32 100.0 86.72 -13.3
Araniwada 22 15 37 59.5 84.89 25.4
Shakraveri 32 31 63 50.8 76.1 25.3
2 Dery 57 18 75 76.0 86.07 10.1
Khajuria 12 20 32 37.5 71.94 34.4
Ajapurmota 48 8 56 85.7 85.65 -0.1
3 Sarotra 118 19 137 86.1 83.89 -2.2
Ramgarh 23 2 25 92.0 91.75 -0.3
Uplobandh 14 13 27 51.9 96.44 44.6
4 Dabhela 132 44 176 75.0 81.33 6.3
* refers to the fact that this attendance is for 3 rd and 4 th standard children who are interviewed
Dantha
Amirgadh
11

The chance of overstating the attendance than the actual presence is also observed from
the sample (Table 2.4). In child interview, we did a census of all the children present on
that day in 3 rd and 4 th standard than sampling from the selected schools which enabled us
to cross check the data with the reported attendance. When we compared the attendance
reported in the school records for children in 3 rd and 4 th standard with the actual children
present in the class room it is observed that 10.3 percent of children were over reported as
present. Compared to Dantha taluka (8.4) the reporting was observed high in Amirgadh
(13.6). When compared for the size of the schools, the over reporting was observed low
in large schools (6.8) than small (10.5) and medium (16.8) once.
Table 2.4: Percentage of difference between Attendance reported in register book and
Children actually present in the class rooms of 3 rd and 4 th standard, by Taluka and the
Size of the School
% children
Taluka/Size of School
missing
Dantha 8.4
Taluka Amirgadh 13.6
Small 10.5
Medium 16.8
Size Large 6.8
Total 10.3
2.3 Reason for absence
The reason given by teachers in schools with low attendance were i) harvest season, ii)
looking after the household, so their parents can go to the fields and iii) Holi festival. The
interview with children revealed reason for absence as in Table 2.5. Illness comes out to
be one crucial factor following work in the farm or housekeeping as the second. When
another 5 percentage reported that there was not any particular reason for absence and
other 5 percentage reported reasons as the role of a care taker to sibling or others. The
school wise reasons are shown in Table 2.6.
Table2.5: Reason for absence on any of the working day during last 7 working days as
reported by children present on the date of interview, Dantha and Amirgadh, 2007
12

Reason N %
To do work 141 21.2
To care siblings 14 2.1
To care others 19 2.9
Festival/mariage 48 7.2
Gone out of village 121 18.2
No reason 34 5.1
Illness 263 39.5
Others 26 3.9
Total 666 100.0
Table 2.6: Reasons for not coming to school by school, route and taluka
TALUKA ROUTE Schools
Dantha
Helping
Helping parents in
parents in agriculture/
Due to household animal
No reason sickness chores rearing
Visiting
relative
Number
of
children Number
Attending who were of
cultural Coming absent in children
function late/home previous present
at home/ work not days of on that
village done the week day
Velwada 0.00 30.00 20.00 10.00 40.00 0.00 0.00 10 23
Toda 0.00 50.00 20.00 10.00 20.00 0.00 0.00 10 40
1 Bhankhari 0.00 34.78 0.00 21.74 30.43 13.04 0.00 23 65
Abhapura 0.00 0.00 20.00 0.00 40.00 40.00 0.00 5 20
Bhavangarh 0.00 0.00 75.00 0.00 25.00 0.00 0.00 4 14
Umbara 60.00 20.00 0.00 0.00 20.00 0.00 0.00 5 20
Senkada 16.67 55.56 27.78 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 18 41
2 Kantivas 9.09 0.00 18.18 36.36 36.36 0.00 0.00 11 5
Zufali 0.00 14.29 14.29 0.00 0.00 71.43 0.00 7 50
Kaushiya 0.00 100.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 1 9
Dalpura
Kanya
Ashramsala 0.00 0.00 50.00 0.00 50.00 0.00 0.00 2 7
Dalpura
Ashramsala
(B) 0.00 50.00 50.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 2 21
3 Bordiyala 18.52 74.07 3.70 0.00 0.00 3.70 0.00 27 40
Udavas 100.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 5 106
Dhagadia 16.00 52.00 8.00 0.00 20.00 4.00 0.00 25 13
Chhota
Bamodra 0.00 54.17 20.83 4.17 20.83 0.00 0.00 24 13
4 Zamru 10.00 60.00 10.00 10.00 10.00 0.00 0.00 10 37
5 Tarangda 33.33 16.67 33.33 0.00 0.00 16.67 0.00 6 53
Amloi 0.00 22.22 33.33 44.44 0.00 0.00 0.00 9 30
Dhareda 60.00 20.00 0.00 20.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 5 26
Rabarivas
(K) 0.00 65.00 30.00 0.00 0.00 5.00 0.00 20 27
13

Ambaji 2.61 40.00 8.70 0.87 22.61 25.22 0.00 115 39
Banodara 5.00 45.00 15.00 25.00 10.00 0.00 0.00 20 309
Uppalghoda 0.00 41.67 25.00 8.33 8.33 16.67 0.00 12 51
Guda 0.00 50.00 11.11 0.00 27.78 11.11 0.00 18 16
Kanodara 9.09 50.00 11.36 6.82 20.45 2.27 0.00 44 38
1
Dhanpura
(V) 3.85 23.08 11.54 19.23 15.38 26.92 0.00 26 63
Rahatfarm 0.00 37.50 25.00 0.00 37.50 0.00 0.00 8 56
Araniwada 0.00 53.33 20.00 0.00 26.67 0.00 0.00 15 32
Shakraveri 0.00 58.33 8.33 16.67 0.00 8.33 8.33 12 22
2 Dery 2.94 32.35 38.24 5.88 11.76 8.82 0.00 34 32
Khajuria 0.00 33.33 33.33 33.33 0.00 0.00 0.00 3 57
Ajapurmota 0.00 16.67 25.00 25.00 33.33 0.00 0.00 12 12
3 Sarotra 1.92 42.31 19.23 9.62 23.08 1.92 1.92 52 47
Ramgarh 0.00 36.36 0.00 18.18 27.27 18.18 0.00 11 118
4 Dabhela 0.00 27.27 20.00 16.36 30.91 5.45 0.00 55 23
Source: Primary survey, Information is collected from those children(of 3 rd and 4 th standard) who are who are interviewed
Amirgadh
2.4 Male-Female Proportion of Children targeted
In Dantha some schools show higher share of girls for boys in 3 rd and 4 th standard and in
Amirgarh taluka for all selected schools except Ajapur mota, the boys have higher share
for the respective standards [Please see table-2.7].
able 2.7: Distribution of selected children by sex for the sample schools by route and Taluka
Taluka Route School Boy Girl Total
14

Velwada 59.4 40.6 32
Toda 54.1 45.9 61
1 Bhankhari 48.7 51.3 78
Abhapura 65.4 34.6 26
Bhavangarh 63.6 36.4 22
Umbara 41.9 58.1 31
Senkada 38.3 61.7 60
2 Sandhosi Ashramsala 35.0 65.0 40
Kantivas 39.8 60.2 88
Zufali 45.8 54.2 24
Kaushiya 35.6 64.4 45
Dalpura Kanya Ashramsala 0.0 100.0 26
Dalpura Ashra sala (B) 60.4 39.6 48
3 Bordiyala 43.8 56.3 128
Udavas 40.7 59.3 27
Dhagadia 49.3 50.7 75
Chhota Bamodra 40.4 59.6 52
4 Zamru 28.1 71.9 89
Tarangda 41.7 58.3 48
Amloi 43.8 56.3 32
Dhareda 53.7 46.3 67
Rabarivas (K) 46.0 54.0 50
Ambaji 47.6 52.4 361
5 Banodara 51.6 48.4 64
Uppalghoda 53.8 46.2 39
Guda 51.1 48.9 47
Kanodara 58.0 42.0 69
1 Dhanpura (V) 65.8 34.2 114
Rahatfarm 65.6 34.4 32
Araniwada 54.1 45.9 37
Shakraveri 47.6 52.4 63
2 Dery 58.7 41.3 75
Khajuria 53.1 46.9 32
Ajapurmota 46.4 53.6 56
3 Saritra 55.5 44.5 137
Ramgarh 56.0 44.0 25
Uplobandh 59.3 40.7 27
4 Dabhela 48.9 51.1 176
Source: Source: Primary survey, Figures are only for 3rd and 4 th standard children of the
respective schools
Dantha
Amirgadh
CHAPTER 3
15

FORTIFIED MILK AND CHILDREN
3.1 Time of Distribution
Table3.1: Usual Time of Fortified Milk distribution in Schools, Dantha and Amirghat,
Gujarat
Time Number Percentage
Before 10.00 am 4 11.11
10.00 am to 11.00 am 11 30.56
11.am to 12 Noon 16 44.44
After 12 noon 4 11.11
All 35 100.00
It is identified that milk is distributed during school days (Monday-Friday) before 11.00
am in 42 percent of the schools. And in another 44 percent the time slot is between 11.00
am and 12 noon. And in 11 percent of the schools it was noted that they are distributing
the milk after 12 noon. Hence it would be better if the school authority gave milk before
11.00am in the morning so as to maintain the coolness of the milk.
3.2 Preference of Children
It is found that the children preferred illaichi
flavour over the rose flavour. In a few schools
children reported vomiting after drinking the
milk (some places, before the introduction of
insulated craters). And we observed a supply of
milk pouches packed two days before the supply
date in Bodiyala school. That is, on the date of
survey (11.03.2008) it was observed that pouches packed on 9 th March were also
distributed with packets packed on 10 th March. In one of the delivery centre (Ambaji) it
was found that, out of the total pouches received on 13.03.2008, twelve percent were
dated on 11 th March and remaining on 12 th March.
Coming to the subject of drinking milk from Dudh Sanjivani Yojna, we found that in
Dantha taluka, schools like Velwada, Senkda, and Dhareda shows around one-fifth of
children do not take milk. In Senkda we found that on the day of survey milk had not
arrived. In that particular school, children complain they do not get milk regularly and
16

further probe revealed they had not been provided with milk for the last 4 to 5 days. And
later it was identified that the MDM worker was not regular in going to the delivery
centre to collect milk pouches and it was very difficult to go and collect the milk due to
terrain. In Amirgadh taluka, in 8 out of 147 schools, more than 10 percent of the children
do not take milk, highest being in Sakraveri (21.9 percent children do not take milk) in
route no. 3, followed by Guda (18.2 percent children do not take milk) in route no. 2
[Table 3.2].
Table 3.2: Distribution of children by schools by their liking of the milk across routes and talukas
Taluka Route Schools Yes No
Dantha
Amirgadh
Not
applicable
Velwada 82.6 17.4 0 23
Toda 100.0 0.0 0 39
1 Bhankhari 98.5 1.5 0 65
Abhapura 95.0 5.0 0 20
Bhavangarh 100.0 0.0 0 14
Umbara 100.0 0.0 0 19
Senkada 61.5 17.9 20.5 39
Sandhosi Ashramsala 100.0 0.0 0 5
2 Kantivas 88.0 12.0 0 50
Zufali 100.0 0.0 0 8
Kaushiya 100.0 0.0 0 7
Dalpura Kanya Ashramsala 100.0 0.0 0 12
Dalpura Ashramsala (B) 95.0 5.0 0 40
3 Bordiyala 97.1 2.9 0 105
Udavas 94.4 5.6 0 18
Dhagadia 91.8 8.2 0 61
Chhota Bamodra 91.4 8.6 0 35
4 Zamru 96.7 3.3 0 61
Tarangda 100.0 0.0 0 29
Amloi 100.0 0.0 0 26
Dhareda 77.8 22.2 0 27
Rabarivas (K) 97.4 2.6 0 39
Ambaji 99.0 1.0 0 310
5 Banodara 96.1 3.9 0 51
Uppalghoda 93.8 6.3 0 16
Guda 81.6 18.4 0 38
Kandara 98.4 1.6 0 62
1 Dhanpura (V) 87.5 12.5 0 40
2 Rahatfarm 83.3 16.7 0 30
Araniwada 100.0 0.0 0 22
Shakraveri 78.1 21.9 0 32
Number of
children
present
17

Dery 86.0 14.0 0 57
Khajuria 100.0 0.0 0 12
Ajapurmota 100.0 0.0 0 44
3 Sarotra 88.6 11.4 0 114
Ramgarh 100.0 0.0 0 23
Uplobandh 85.7 14.3 0 14
4 Dabhela 84.3 15.7 0 127
Source: Primary survey, The analysis is for those children (of 3 rd and 4 th standard) who are
interviewed
Those who do not take milk regularly were asked for the reasons of not taking milk. The
most common answer was found to be that of vomiting, not liking its flavour and due to a
habit of not taking milk. This is common for both the talukas [Table-3.3].
Table:3.3 Distribution of children who do not take milk for various reasons by schools, route and taluka.
Taluka
Route
School
Vomitting after taking milk
Does not like the flavour
Stomach pain after taking the
milk
Milk is smelling
Do not like milk
She is r not taking after bitten
by some animal
Milk is too sweet for her
Get skin infection
Dantha
Amir
gadh
number of children who don’t
take milk for various reasons
Percentage
Of total children who do not
take milk for various reasons
Number of children present in
the school
Velwada 50.0 50.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 4 17.4 23
1 Bhankhari 100.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 1 1.5 65
Senkada 50.0 0.0 16.7 33.3 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 6 14.6 41
2 Kantivas 14.3 57.1 0.0 14.3 14.3 0.0 0.0 0.0 7 14.0 50
Dalpura
Ashramsal
a (B) 0.0 0.0 0.0 100.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 2 5.0 40
3 Bordiyala 33.3 0.0 66.7 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 6 5.7 106
Udavas 0.0 100.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 1 5.6 18
Dhagadia 0.0 33.3 33.3 0.0 0.0 33.3 0.0 0.0 3 4.9 61
Chhota
Bamodra 100.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 2 5.4 37
4 Zamru 0.0 0.0 0.0 100.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 2 3.3 61
Dhareda 83.3 0.0 16.7 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 6 22.2 27
Rabarivas
(K) 100.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 1 2.6 39
Ambaji 0.0 66.7 33.3 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 3 1.0 309
5 Banodara 100.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 2 3.9 51
1
Uppalgho
da 0.0 100.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 1 6.3 16
Guda 28.6 71.4 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 7 18.4 38
18

Kandara 0.0 100.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 1 1.6 63
Dhanpura
(V) 55.6 22.2 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 22.2 0.0 9 16.1 56
Rahatfarm 33.3 66.7 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 3 9.4 32
Shakraver
i 0.0 60.0 20.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 20.0 5 15.6 32
2 Dery 75.0 25.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 4 7.0 57
Source: Primary survey. Source: Primary survey, Information is collected from those children (of 3 rd and 4 th standard)
who are interviewed
3.3 Excess / Deficiency in Milk Pouches
Table 3.4 below shows the mean, standard deviation and range of difference in number of
fortified milk pouches delivered and the reported attendance in each day, five day
durations and for 15 day durations during the last 15 working days (15 th day is the date of
interview). It is identified that the mean difference between the FF milk pouches
delivered and attendance was 147.5 for 15 days. The positive sign of the difference
implies provision of FF milk is greater than the attendance, which is sensible and
essential to ensure the coverage of all the children present. The excess in number of
pouches were higher in Dantha taluka than Amirgadh.
Mean differences for all fifteen days were greater than zero, which implies that in all
those days the mean demand of pouches is met and the difference varies from 3 pouches
(Day 5) to 16 (Day 13) only. Even though ‘the figures of mean difference of pouches
with attendance’ were showing the adequacy in meeting the demands in the selected
schools, the data showed high standard deviations in all most all days.
The number of packets delivered in excess/deficit than the attendance for the first five
days (d1_5), sixth to 10 days (d6_10) and 11 to 15 th day (d11_15) during the 15 working
days prior to survey is taken to the extent precise for the effect of ceremonies or festivals
in the locality which causes sudden decline in the attendance (See Table 3.4). More or
less same pattern as 15 day was observed for the clubbed 5 day durations of 1 to 5, 6 to
10 and 11 to 15 also.
Table 3.4: Statistics of Difference in FF milk Pouches delivered and Attendance, Day wise
and 5 day Period wise, Banaskantha, 2007
19

Difference Mean Std. Deviation Range
Day 1 5.22 24.42 130
Day 2 8.03 32.51 191
Day 3 7.59 39.18 247
Day 4 5.78 34.29 213
Day 5 3.03 21.92 118
Day 6 9.38 38.70 239
Day 7 11.13 31.95 166
Day 8 10.91 32.80 164
Day 9 10.25 33.34 164
Day 10 12.50 42.05 254
Day 11 12.16 44.07 252
Day 12 13.00 37.02 205
Day 13 15.78 37.92 211
Day 14 9.66 27.36 142
Day 15 13.09 27.49 146
Day 1 to 5 29.66 146.66 886
Day 6 to 10 54.16 163.20 817
Day 11 to 15 63.69 156.37 861
Day 1 to 15 Dantha 174.21 458.48 2252.00
Day 1 to 15 Amirgadh 108.46 398.89 1653.00
Day 1 to 15 Total 147.50 429.79 2252.00
To know the potency and location of distribution problem, numbers of packets excess or
deficient in each of the schools in both talukas were analyzed. The following figure
(Figure 3.1) gives an idea about the number of packets in excess or deficient in Dantha
taluka for five day duration of three consecutive periods. In schools like Bhabangarh,
Umbra, Jumphari, Chotta Vamodara, Amloi and Tarangada it is observed that the FF
milk pouches delivered are adequate to meet the need of the children present. But more
than 600 pouches were delivered during 2 out of the three periods selected in Ambaji
School. And in some other schools it was noted that the pouches were delivered less than
the actual children present. For example in Kantivas and Dhareda, it was observed that
the packets delivered were less than the actual present in all the three five day durations
selected. In short, the fair mean difference observed for the total delivery is due to excess
at some places and deficiency at some other places.
Figure 3.1: Excess/deficient Fortified Milk Pouches for a 5 day duration during three
consecutive periods of time in selected schools of Dantha, 2007
20

800
700
600
500
400
300
200
100
0
-100
-200
-300
Bakhri
Toda
Velwada
Bhabangarh
Kantivas
Sandhosi
Umbra
Bodiyala
Dalpura (G)
Jumphari
Kaushia
Chotta vamodara
d1_5 d6_10 d11_15
Udhavas
Ambaji
Amloi
Dhareda
Rabarivas
Tarangada
Vanodara
The following figure (Figure 3.2) depicts an idea about the number of packets in excess
or deficient in Amirgadh taluka for five day durations of three consecutive periods.
Figure3.2: Excess/deficient Fortified Milk Pouches for 5 day duration during three
different but consecutive periods of time in selected schools of Amirgadh, 2007
800
700
600
500
400
300
200
100
0
-100
-200
Dhanpura
Guda
Kansara
Upplaguda
Araniwada
Deri
Rahatfarm
Sakarveri
Ajapurmota
Khajuria
Sarotra
Ramgarh
Upplobandh
Series1 Series2 Series3
In Amirgadh taluka also, it was noted that a large number of pouches were delivered
excessively in one of the school, Dhanpura. In Dhanpura, 560 and 698 pouches were
delivered than the reported attendance in two periods of Day 6 to 10 and Day 11 to 15. It
21

had turn out to be a fairly good distribution in Amirghat taluka compared to Dantha
taluka as the excess at one place is managed by small deficits at other places.
Excess/deficient number of Fortified Milk Pouches by the size of the school
Table 3.5 shows the percentage distribution of schools by Excess/deficient number of
Fortified Milk Pouches during 15 days by the size of the school. In small schools, more
than 90 percent have excess number of fortified milk than the reported attendance. And
in almost 62 percent of small schools excess is fair enough to cover any change in the day
to day attendance at the same time wastage was not so high. An excess of 200 to 500
packets were there in 31 percent of small schools. In medium sized schools, 33 percent
each were having either excess or deficit of 1 to 200 packets. But in large schools, the
excess of more than 500 (the figures were 1319 and 1691) were observed in 29 percent
schools where as in another 29 percentage there was deficit of 200 to 400 packets.
Table 3.6: Percentage distribution of schools according to Excess/deficit number of
Fortified Milk Pouches for 15 days by size of the schools, Banaskantha, 2007.
Small Medium Large Total
Deficit of 200 to 400 0.00 8.33 28.57 9.38
Deficit of 1 to 200 7.69 33.33 28.57 21.88
Excess of 1 to 200 61.54 33.33 0.00 37.50
Excess of 200 to
500 30.77 16.67 14.29 21.88
Excess of 500 or
more 0.00 8.33 28.57 9.38
100
100
Total
(13) 100(12) 100 (7) (32)
Deficiency reported by MDM organizer
More than 80 percent of MDM organizers
informed that there won’t be any deficit in the
milk delivered and others also mentioned there
can be a deficit of one or two packets. And
except in 6 schools, all MDM organizers said
they will be redistributing the extra pouches to
elder children. If that is the case, chances of overstating the actual attendance will be a
22

common phenomenon. In such situation, the difference in fortified milk observed as
deficit than the observed will not be a problem when adjusting for the chance of
overstated attendance. However, efforts are needed to check particularly in large and
medium schools to check for the higher number of FF pouches reported than reported
attendance.
We were told that the excess pouches would be distributed to elder students who like it,
either randomly or turn wise. Since this issue may have a possible link to the leakage of
pouches, we verified that with the students and found that many children present in 3 rd
and 4 th standard were taken extra pouches during last week (Table 3.7).
Table 3.7: Distribution of children by schools* who have more than one pouch during the
week preceding survey, by routes and talukas
Percentage** reported they got Total children present in
Route
At least one extra pouch in the 3 rd and 4 th on date of
Taluka no. School last week
interview
Velwada 65.22 23
1 Bhankhari 66.15 65
3 Bordiyala 1.89 106
4
Chhota
Bamodra 8.11 37
Dhareda 7.41 27
Rabarivas (K) 43.59 39
Ambaji 51.78 309
5 Banodara 64.71 51
Uppalghoda 100.00 16
Guda 94.74 38
Kandara 98.41 63
1 Dhanpura (V) 71.43 56
Rahatfarm 93.75 32
Araniwada 100.00 22
Shakraveri 100.00 32
2 Dery 98.25 57
Khajuria 100.00 12
Ajapurmota 91.67 48
3 Sarotra 96.61 118
Ramgarh 100.00 23
Uplobandh 100.00 14
4 Dabhela 96.21 132
Source: Primary survey, only those children (of 3 rd and 4 th standard) who are interviewed
Dantha
Amirgadh
23

Note: *This information is collected only from 8 schools out of the 24 in Dantha taluka
**The percentage refers to those children personally present in the class rooms of 3 rd and
4 th .
3.4 Disposal of the Pouches
In all the schools surveyed, the plastic pouches are either burned or just thrown away in
the nearby places, which may create health and environmental hazards in the long run.
Hence it is important to arrive at safe disposal method of the pouches or come up with
means to recycle it. Here we suggest that after drinking the milk, the children can put the
pouch to an empty container which later, the MDM organizer can collect and send for
recycling.
CHAPTER 4
24

PERCEPTION OF VARIOUS STAKEHOLDERS
4.1 Background of MDM Organisers
Mid day Meal worker is the person responsible for collecting the milk from the delivery
centre and distributing at the school. The MDM organizer at the delivery centre is
responsible for not only distributing the pouches to the children of his school but to other
MDM organizers of other schools too. Most of the MDM organisers perceive the
Fortified Milk programme as a part of the Chief Minister’s10 point programme and
perceive very positively by saying the Programme would really benefit the health of the
children. However, very few (5.5 percentage) suggested that no information was given to
them or they don’t know anything more about the advantages of fortified milk.
Out of 36 MDM organisers only four are women. The women MDM are from Aarnivada,
Udavas, Rabarivas from Dantha block and Deri from Amirgarh taluka. The majority of
the MDMs (25 out of 36 schools) are from the same village where the school is located.
All of them get a meager salary of Rs. 500 which government termed as ‘honorarium’.
Out of the 36 MDMs selected for the interview, only two graduates (both of them are
from Amirgadh taluka, from Kansara and Upplobandh respectively), where as 11 of them
have completed either 11 th or 12 th standard. All the female MDMs have 10 th standard
education. Besides working in MDM scheme, majority of the MDM organisers are
engaged in agriculture and animal husbandry (14 out of 36), followed by only agriculture
(8), agriculture and farm labour (2) and running a shop (2). Three out of 10 remaining
MDM organizers mention they do not have any additional source of income apart from
MDM honorarium; while others do have driving commercial vehicles or work as
electrician or construction labourer. But overall all of them are associated to some extent
with the agriculture.
4.2 Transportation to carry milk to schools
25

Out of 36 MDMs,
six do not have to
travel for bringing
milk as their
schools are
delivery centres
(Two in Amirgadh
and rest are from Dantha) themselves. However, for remaining MDM organisers distance
varied between 0.5 km. (for Sandhosi ashramsala) to 9 km. for Udhavas (in Dantha
taluka). For MDMs of Kajuria and Upplogoda in Amrigarh taluka, the distance is 8 km to
the delivery centre. For others even if the distance is less, it does not mean an easy
transportation means for them. Because some of them have to cross rough terrains and
flooded rivers (in monsoon) to bring milk. Most of them use more than one mode of
transport (Mainly a combination of walking/cycling a part of the distance and
taking/hiring a vehicle). In some schools (19.4 percent schools), the MDM organizer
responded that they have been carrying the pouches on head. One of the complains from
the MDM organizers was that, after the introduction of new thermo cool boxes, jeep
drivers refused to carry them or charge extra money, because of the weight of the box and
a lot of space as it was essential that it be kept in side the vehicle. They complained that
the boxes were also not easy to carry on head/cycle, if there were more than one box to
be carried. So, most of them use old crates or sack bags to carry milk from the delivery
centre.
4.3 Preservation of the Milk in Schools
And it is observed that in some places, the pouches are being put in buckets made of
Plastic or Aluminum instead of the insulated crates. And maintaining the morning
timings of distribution at schools will be important because of this problem of keeping
milk in cooling conditions. And in some other places it was observed that milk had been
26

kept in crates but without lids. In all the schools children had milk after washing the
pouches.
4.4 Reimbursement:
Some of the selected MDM organisers claim, they got their due charges only once, i.e.
also way back during Diwali in 2007. MDM organiser at delivery centres are the most
unhappy ones (as in case of Gorad delivery centre to be discussed in following section),
as they do not get a single penny for their services, though they take care of the milk
crates of different school assigned to them, till the respective MDM organisers take them
away. They also count the pouches for different schools, place demand for the next day’s
requirement with vehicle drivers and take charge of empty crates from other schools.
Lack of reasonable transportation charge, tough terrain in many cases and the newly
introduced heavier and difficult to handle thermo cools adds to their irritation. Irregular
payment of transportation also adds to their woos.
4.5 Record Keeping and Committee at School level
It was also found that most of the MDM organisers at delivery centre or individual
schools hardly have any uniformly written record to show the daily intake of pouches,
though they maintain a record for number of student served mid-day-meal. In most of the
case the milk pouches are coming on the basis of total registered strength of the school.
The reimbursement is given for the distance covered to collect milk from delivery centre
to all MDM organizers. Schoolteacher or principal write details about the number of
pouches consumed and this is submitted to the Mamaldar office, which makes the
payments. However most of them complained about the delay in payments. They
reported that for the repeat queries and complaint to vigilance officer, Mamladar officer,
and union chief, they usually get reasons for delay as non-availability of fund. And one
of them pointed out that after the news in daily, they were suddenly reimbursed.
27

It is observed that the timings and coverage of milk distribution was fairly good if school
teachers or principals have an overlook into the day-to day activities. Apparently it is
happening in schools with higher number of children. Hence we also suggest that there
should be a committee constituting of teachers and class monitors to overlook the time of
distribution, adequacy/excess of packages and motivation of any children if they are not
drinking regularly. This will subsequently deal with disorganization of MDM organizers
if any, due to their obligation to meet the timings and will help to ensure the coolness or
taste of the milk is retained.
4.6 Other observations regarding the activities of MDM organiser
• It is found that most of the MDM organisers have engaged their relatives/hired
workers to bring milk to the school at a nominal charge.
• In case of women MDM organiser, only her relatives appear in the school on her
behalf, if she is busy in doing household chores/taking care of her child.
• Children wash the pouches and teachers distribute them after prayer in many
schools.
4.7 Observation in Delivery and Distribution Centres
.
• In most cases MDMs are not present at the delivery centres. Rather the teacher of
the delivery school takes charge of the crates.
• The driver of the vehicle or the helper counts milk pouches.
• Children handle the crates at delivery centres to take them into their school.
• The drivers of the vehicles were supposed to take signature from the concerned
persons from respective delivery centres, for delivery of number of crates and
milk pouches in a given day and receive next day’s demand. MDM organizers of
the schools will not be there and a thumb rule based on the registered number is
applied to demand the pouches.
• the receipt voucher is signed by the representative of the MDM organiser
28

• The driver signed the receipt voucher himself since he can not wait for too long to
the arrival of respective MDMs/teachers at delivery centre, otherwise he would be
too late for the last delivery centre/school.
• In all routes, it is found that there is a foul smell inside the fresh milk crates. The
storerooms in delivery centres and individual schools, where empty crates are
kept, to be returned on next day, the air is full of stinking. The route
contractors/drivers/school teachers/MDM organisers blame it on closed crates.
This problem, according to them, was not there in open crates.
• In Dabhela, and Rahat farm (of Amirghat taluka) as well as in Senkada (of
Dantha) the school authorities told that MDMs do not come to the school
regularly for both mid day meal distribution or fortified milk distribution.
• At both the distribution centres (Amirgadh as well as Dantha), the school incharge
assisted by the peons of the school supervises the milk distribution
programme. Generally they stay inside the campus of the school. Entire operation
lasts from 4 a.m. in the morning to 12 p.m. noon. So they are little bit reserved
about the programme, as they have to spend considerable time on the programme
without any extra payment.
• Large number of empty crates, both open as well as new thermo cool ones, found
lying distribution centres. Only positive thing for them is, their children who are
from 8 th standard onwards also receive milk pouches every day.
• Route drivers stated they get regular payments from the Tribal Sub-Plan office at
Palanpur in the month end
4.8 Discussion with other stake holders
Banas dairy authorities are of the opinion that dairy is suffering losses because of
subsidized rate of Rs. 4.80 per pouch. They want upward price revision for the scheme to
be sustainable for the dairy. Due to the deficiency of the thermo cool crates, the dairy is
providing milk pouches in that in alternative days only and in other days on their plastic
crates. (The survey team also found many thermo cool crates are lying in side school
store rooms, some of them in MDM’s houses, some in distribution centers, even six of
29

them are kept in front of Dantha Mamaldar office (TDO office at Dantha), in the
open!!!!) They also emphasize that, in case of some complain regarding the quality and
taste of milk, they try to response at the earliest. But generally it is felt by the team that
the dairy had to make some arrangements to ascertain the opinion of teachers/MDM
organisers/children about the quality of milk. For instance there is a mis-conception that
fat quantity in the milk has come down. The fact is that the fat quantity for one pouch of
200 ml. Remains at 3.1 gm. But the nutrient contents in the pouch are printed for 100 ml,
which comes to 1.5 gm. Now many teachers also do not aware of this change in
declaration about the content on the pouch and opined that milk is thin than before. In
future a kind of orientation programme for school teachers/MDM organisers will be
helpful, when the dairy is changing any thing related to the scheme, from quality of milk
to its flavor or appearance of the pouch.
Deputy. Director, Tribal sub plan (TSP) was of the opinion that the demand for more
honorariums by MDM organizer is unjustified, because ‘Dudh Sanjivani’ comes under
MDM scheme. When we draw his attention to some of the schools which we do not
receive milk during monsoon, his opinion is that it is their directive not to send milk
which remain inaccessible during monsoon, because they can do little unless
infrastructures like roads improved in that area.
30

CHAPTER 5
CONCLUSION AND SUGGESTION
The Strengths, Opportunities, Weakness and Threats (SWOT) of the programme are
summarized in the SOWT table presented below
Table: SOWT analysis of Fortified milk Programme in Dantha and Amirgadh, Gujarat
2007-08
Strength Opportunities Weakness Threats
It has strong backing
of the administration,
especially the
Secretary of Tribal
Development
Department, officials
at Tribal sub-plan
office, Officials at
TDO office of Dantha
and Amirgadh Taluka
as well as the officials
of Banaskantha Dairy
Meeting the target
adequately well, as
the attendance rate in
schools (for a fifteen
day) was observed as
80 percent.
If the
teachers/Principal are
It will enable the
government to
improve the
education status of
Tribals of Dantha and
Amirgadh Taluka in
the future
It will improve the
nutritional status of
children, especially
the vitamin-A
deficiency among
them could be
brought down.
Monitor the supply to
large schools where
the extra pouches
observed very high.
Prepare and keep a
uniform record in all
schools for the FF
milk programme like
one in MDM scheme
Constitute a
committee of
Officials at TSP
office have to be
equally sensitive to
the demands of MDM
workers as to the
Dairy or route
contractors regarding
the remuneration.
Irregular supply due
to MDM worker’s
non co-operation in
Senkada school but
little ways to check
this.
There is nothing
called ‘daily demand
and daily supply’
found neither from
the MDM worker
(because they do not
maintain any uniform
record like MDM
scheme,), nor from
the route contractor
(in most of the routes,
it is found their
drivers have the
responsibility to
deliver milk). Instead
a number of daily
requirements is
reached through the
thumb rule.
Currently
Teachers/Principal
MDM workers,
particularly at delivery
centres are not happy
with the scheme
because of additional
responsibility without
additional
remuneration.
This may lead to either
overestimation or
underestimation of
pouches for a given
day. But a scenario of
overestimation to
certain extent is better
than underestimation;
because the latter
involves the type-II
error, excluding the
needy ones.
The MDM worker is
not supervised by any
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overlooking the daily
activities, there the
programme runs well
The programme
brings positive social
change. The younger
children are happily
taking the milk.
Observed Good
monitoring and
hygienic standards at
the time of packing
and preserving FF
milk in the Dairy
teachers, class
monitors and
Principal to overlook
the programme
Reduces the gender
discrimination in
food and nutrition
since girl children are
neglected and
discriminated against
nutritious food in
many households
Motivate the children
who are not taking
due to the cultural
barrier to change their
habit
Keep an eye on the
date of delivery,
contents, flavour etc.
on a routine basis
Dairy has to improve
the communication
with school teachers
and MDM workers to
dispel the notions
about the programme,
especially about the
quality of milk.
was not held
accountable for the
implementation of the
scheme.
It is found that
proportions of girls
are higher among
those who are not
taking milk and elder
children compared to
the younger. One of
the reason sighted by
the teachers was,
culturally girls are not
encouraged to drink
milk in their homes
unlike their brothers.
Milk packed two day
before also supplied
in some schools.
Some of the
stakeholders reported
reduction in the fat
content of the milk
and Dairy authorities
viewed this as a
misconception
body at the school
unlike the mid-daymeal
scheme, where
some one among the
teachers, has to sign the
record every day, for
the number of student
taking the meal.
While evaluating the
health effects of
Fortified milk, exclude
the children not taking
milk otherwise the
study will
underestimate the
effects
The change in taste, or
quality may lead to
poor coverage of the
scheme. Certain
children cited that they
are not taking milk in
recent past, because
they think milk is too
thin and sweet now
than earlier.
Timely
reimbursement by the
TSP to Dairy and
Route Contractors
Consider the genuine
demands from the
Dairy and take
necessary action and
initiate discussion
Dairy reported that
without increase in
the price per milk
pouch may force the
dairy to suffer
economic losses.
This may lead to
disruption/breakdown
of the scheme/quality
of milk may decline.
Sensitivity of the
administrators to
provide good quality
of service.
To solve the taste
difference due to the
However difficult to
carry in difficult
terrain and long
distances where
cycle/public
vehicle/on foot are
the mean of transport.
MDM organizers
seem less sensitive
towards maintaining
the cooling conditions
of the milk. In
Schools also they are
not keeping the
15. As observed, MDM
workers are not using
the thermo cool crates
and instead using
sacks. This may spoil
the pouches, because
they are exposed to the
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loss in cooling
conditions
Government provided
thermo cool crates.
Find an alternative
and effective
utilization of the
available crates
pouches in the crates.
The crates would suit
the convenience of
MDM workers also.
sun light. It is also
observed in delivery
vans they remove the
cover for better
handling. So the top
layers of the crates are
always exposed to the
sun. The change in
taste will affect the
coverage of the
programme
The provision of milk in school campus is not only important due to its role in improving
the nutritional status of children, but its role in bringing positive changes in the mental
and social attitudes of the children as well. In some schools where the girl children in
higher classes are not drinking the milk, due to the odd practice of giving milk only to the
male child ignoring the girl children by the parents will change finally when they get
used to the practice of taking together from the school. When the habit of drinking or
eating together from the childhood is inculcated in the culture, it will help to reduce any
kind of apprehension towards and among those who are in lower social strata will be
reducing in the society. Hence the programme has both explicit and implicit changes in
the wellbeing of the children. However, the weaknesses and threats of the programme
need to be addressed for effective implementation of the programme.
33