Haryana orders statewide survey of kheer, pinni under mid-day meal scheme

Gurgaon: Directorate of Elementary Education has ordered a state-wide survey to assess the quality and distribution of kheer and peanut pinni served to students once a week under the mid-day meal scheme in govt schools.The survey will be conducted by Maharshi Dayanand University (MDU) and will cover students from Classes III to VIII. District elementary education officials have been asked to share a list of schools where these items are served with the university and cooperate with the survey teams. The department has further directed that the exercise be completed within a fixed timeline and the final report submitted by March 31, 2026.
The survey will be led by Sandeep Malik, professor and director at Institute of Hotel and Tourism Management and Chaudhary Ranbir Singh Institute of Social and Economic Change at MDU. Vice-chancellor Som Nath Sachdeva said the university will adopt a structured, field-based research approach to ensure reliable findings."Our team will conduct visits to selected schools across districts, interact with students, teachers and staff, and collect feedback on taste, quality and hygiene of the food items. Structured questionnaires and systematic data analysis will be used to ensure the findings are evidence-based," he said.He added that the aim is to generate credible data to help the government review the distribution system and improve implementation of the mid-day meal scheme.Professor Malik said the survey will cover both rural and urban schools to understand different ground realities. "We will examine distribution efficiency, storage conditions, supply consistency and actual consumption patterns. The final report will provide practical recommendations based on detailed field data," he said.School heads also shared their views. Mukesh, head of Fazilpur Jharsa Govt Primary School with 770 students up to Class V, said children are enthusiastic about the kheer and pinni. He said the premix has been supplied since Nov and that while the main meal is provided by another foundation, the school distributes the kheer and pinni.Chandrabhan, head of Khetawas Govt School with 72 primary students, said the items are popular and distributed regularly as per a fixed roster.An education department official said, "The department of education has started a survey to evaluate the quality of the kheer and pinni provided. It aims to ensure that the items meet quality standards and are well received by children."Officials said the findings will help address issues at the ground level and support smoother implementation of the scheme across Haryana schools.