Karnataka Government’s Social Audit System Ensures Quality Food in SC Hostels—India’s First Model, Explained

Hostel wardens are required to upload GPS-tagged and timestamped images of meals daily. The pilot project is operational in 293 institutions across Bidar, Raichur, and Chamarajanagar districts. Images are uploaded three times a day—during breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Geetha Sunil Pillai

Bengaluru – Complaints about the quality of food and hygiene in SC/ST hostels run by Social Welfare Departments across India have been widespread. Reports of worms in flour, insects in pulses, substandard spices, and stale or spoiled meals are common.

However, the Karnataka government has introduced an innovative social audit system to address such grievances, ensuring food quality and transparency. This initiative establishes India’s first model for public monitoring, giving parents, the media, and the general public access to real-time food quality reviews.

Under this system, anyone from anywhere in the country can view timestamped images of breakfast, lunch, and dinner served in Karnataka’s Social Welfare Department-run hostels. These images verify that students are receiving quality food on time.

Pilot Project

Launched in December 2024, this project began as a pilot initiative in three of Karnataka’s most backward districts. Its success and enthusiastic public feedback have encouraged the government to expand it statewide. The pilot initially covered 293 hostels in Bidar, Chamarajanagar, and Raichur districts.

The Social Welfare Department of Karnataka, established on October 18, 1956, was founded to cater to the welfare of Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), Other Backward Classes (OBC), women, and children. Currently, it primarily focuses on SC welfare.

The idea for the pilot project emerged from discussions and meetings between Minister HC Mahadevappa and students living in hostels managed by the Karnataka Residential Educational Institutions Society (KREIS).

Scale of Operations

Karnataka has over 2,500 KREIS hostels that provide meals to more than 4.5 lakh students daily. Students often shared complaints with Mahadevappa about poor food quality and delays in meal service. Despite a fixed government-mandated menu for three meals a day, deviations from the menu and inconsistencies in meal timings were frequently reported.

For example, breakfast scheduled at 8:30 AM was often served late, delaying students’ departure for school or college. These recurring issues led the Social Welfare Ministry to implement the new social audit system to ensure balanced nutrition, timely meals, and proper hygiene for growing children.

On a pilot basis selected government schools and hostels are sharing daily photos of breakfast, lunch, and dinner on their official X accounts (Twitter). The web page centralize these updates, making it easy for parents, stakeholders, and officials to track meal quality statewide. This initiative, involving KREIS schools and Social Welfare Department hostels, aims to enhance public trust and provide real-time insights into student nutrition.

How the Social Audit System Works

Leveraging the widespread use of social media, the initiative mandates all hostels to create Twitter handles. Hostel wardens are required to upload GPS-tagged and timestamped images of meals daily. The pilot project is operational in 293 institutions across Bidar, Raichur, and Chamarajanagar districts. Images are uploaded three times a day—during breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

A 30-member control room monitors these posts and comments, ensuring accountability. Additionally, a dashboard on the department’s website lists all participating institutions’ social media handles. Parents and stakeholders can easily access updates and provide feedback.

For instance, if someone wants to check a specific school, they can view four daily images: students eating meals, the cooks, the kitchen area, and the timestamp. Officials regularly monitor these parameters. Public engagement through likes and comments motivates staff to maintain quality or make improvements based on feedback.

Senior IAS officer and Principal Secretary Social Welfare, Captain P Manivannan stated, “Sitting 600 kilometers away in Bengaluru, one can check details about dinner served at a government residential school in Bagdal, Bidar. Images of food, the kitchen, and the timestamp are uploaded within minutes of service. This transparency initiative is a revolutionary step by the Social Welfare Department, which operates these schools, enabling social auditing.”

Each image must include GPS location and timestamps, along with visuals of the menu chart, clean kitchens, and children consuming meals. Strict guidelines ensure the inclusion of such details, guaranteeing accountability and confirming that students are eating the food served.

Real-Time Monitoring and Public Accessibility

Images uploaded on the department’s website, http://foodswdgok.in, can be easily viewed by anyone. Additionally, a 24/7 helpline (+91 94823 00400) is available for queries and complaints about food quality.

The second phase, set to launch on January 26, will expand the initiative to seven more districts, covering 946 hostels. The government plans to bring over 3,000 hostels and schools statewide under this system.

Launched as a full-fledged pilot on December 1, 2024, this initiative aims to ensure accountability and real-time monitoring in schools and hostels managed by KREIS, serving marginalized communities, particularly Scheduled Castes. By leveraging technology and social media, this project promotes transparency and public participation, setting a precedent for similar models across India.

Courtesy : The Mooknayak

Note: This news is originally published on themooknayak.com and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially for human rights.