Monitoring group of the territorial office of the National Center for Prevention of Torture (NCPT), together with the involved experts from Spravedlivost (Justice) human rights organization, visited boarding schools in Jalal-Abad region of Kyrgyzstan. They were indignant that only 60 soms a day are allocated for food in boarding schools.
Human rights activists note that it is impossible to provide good nutrition for children for such a sum.
The monitoring group visited the boarding school in Kochkor-Ata, the boarding school in Bazar-Korgon and boarding school No. 75 in Boston village, Suzak district. Orphans, half-orphans, disabled people, children of migrants, children from large and low-income families are educated in them.
Alisher Ermatov, regional representative of NCPT for Jalal-Abad region, emphasizes that he notices the poor quality of children’s nutrition during each visit. «The food is thin, there is very little meat, there is not even enough sunflower oil. Buckwheat and pasta constantly alternate. When we ask why this is happening, we are told that they cannot offer more, since all products in the markets have risen in price,» he said.
Three kilograms of meat were distributed among 260 people for lunch in boarding school No. 75 in Boston village, Suzak district. Experts have made sure that children do not get enough protein.
Alisher Ermatov believes that it is urgent to allocate additional funds for food. The National Center initiated a study of children’s institutions and collected the necessary information for an alternative report.
According to Eldor Bakirov, a lawyer of the monitoring group, lawyer for Spravedlivost human rights organization, the Cabinet of Ministers set minimum standards for children’s nutrition in social institutions, but the estimated monetary norms for one child per day in the amount of 60 soms were established 15 years ago and are now considered insufficient due to high food prices. Members of the monitoring group are in favor of an immediate increase in this amount.
The Jalal-Abad human rights organization Spravedlivost has prepared a letter of proposal to the Cabinet of Ministers on revising the established amounts for meals in boarding schools.
