MCD midday meal kitchens in Delhi have come under scrutiny after Mayor Pravesh Wahi described them as being as clean and well-equipped as “five-star hotels” during an inspection, prompting objections from opposition councillors over the condition of municipal schools and canteens.
Wahi inspected the Maitreyi Mid-Day Meal Kitchen in Pooth village on Monday, checking food preparation, hygiene and the ingredients being used, according to a report by PTI published by Millennium Post. He also tasted kadhi-chawal prepared for schools running morning shifts. Puri-sabzi was being prepared for schools with evening shifts.
The mayor said there would be no compromise on the quality of food supplied to municipal schools and announced that surprise inspections of mid-day meal kitchens would be carried out every week. The announcement places the kitchens under a more regular inspection schedule, although details of the inspection process, reporting mechanism and follow-up action were not provided in the report.
The meal programme operates under the PM POSHAN Abhiyaan, through which kitchens receive food ingredients and financial assistance. The report did not specify the number of kitchens inspected, the number of municipal schools served by the Pooth facility or the budget allocated for the meal supply system.
The mayor’s description drew criticism from AAP councillor and Standing Committee member Praveen Kumar. He rejected the claim and said most MCD schools were in poor condition. Kumar also said he would inspect school canteens, indicating that the condition of meal facilities and school buildings could become part of the civic body’s internal political scrutiny.
Congress councillor Nazia Danish also questioned the mayor’s assessment. She asked whether BJP leaders send their children to municipal schools and challenged the civic administration to present a school kitchen for inspection. Danish additionally questioned the closure of several Atal Canteens soon after their launch.
The exchange highlights two separate issues now attached to the kitchen inspection: the immediate question of food preparation and hygiene, and the broader condition of facilities operated by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi. The available report does not establish whether any hygiene violation was found at the Pooth village kitchen or whether any action was taken against a kitchen or school.
The mayor’s proposed weekly surprise inspections are the next stated administrative step. Further details on the inspection schedule, findings and corrective action would determine how the civic body intends to assess kitchens supplying meals to MCD schools.
