The mid-day meal system in government primary and secondary schools is in a mess. The mid-day meal operators have not received their cooking cost for two months, due to which they have stopped preparing mid-day meals for the past three days. As a result, headmasters of 30 schools in the Balod development block have been served show-cause notices.
After the notice was issued, the headmasters gheraoed the office of the development block education officer and discussed the matter with them. The headmasters said that they are trying their best to ensure that the mid-day meal system is not affected. Creating a system takes time, but putting pressure is wrong.
Development block education officer Basant Bag said that we had asked the headmasters to make alternative arrangements for the mid-day meal, but the headmasters of 30 schools could not make any arrangements, so they were served notices.
The development block education officer said that the headmasters should submit the bill for the expenses incurred on mid-day meals to the office. The payment will be made, but until the mid-day meal operators return to the schools, the schools will have to make their arrangements for mid-day meals.
Many headmasters said that the operators took away the wood, ration, and stoves from the schools. In such a situation, a new ration will have to be purchased. Headmasters have many other responsibilities, so they often face problems.
The education department also does not know when the payment of the cooking cost will be made. Until then, many children will remain hungry, and some will bring their tiffin from home.
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Published on:
27 Sept 2024 11:17 am