ALFRED FERNANDES
SANGUEM: The Central and State governments may be touting the mid-day meal scheme as a crucial multi-faceted programme in the education sector, but feeble attempts are made in some parts of the State to implement the mid-day meal scheme in letter and in spirit.
In a shocking revelation, about 1,100 students from many government schools in a remote part of Sanguem taluka have been deprived of mid-day meals for about three months, as the contractors have stopped supplying meals to the schools.
The contractors have reportedly withdrawn their services, allegedly on account of losses and the distance involved in supplying meals to schools located in remote villages.
According to sources, those affected by the withdrawal of the mid-day meals include 350 students in Kalay, over 400 in Netravali and 350 students in Rivona, from government primary and high schools in the three villages.
Speaking to Herald, many parents complained bitterly over the sudden halt in mid-day meals to students since the last three months.
“Initially, we assumed that the scheme was stopped due to incidences of food poisoning in the State, but we were surprised to learn that the supply was stopped due to withdrawal of services by the contractor,” remarked a parent.
“The mid-day meal scheme is successfully running in other parts of the State and this scheme has greatly helped students from poor strata of society in the remote villages of Kalay, Netravali and Rivona,” the parent added.
Sources informed that the mid-day meals are crucial to the students, who leave early for their classes and return home late, as they live and study in remote areas.
When contacted, a contractor involved in supplying mid-day meals complained that supplying of mid-day meals was simply not feasible under prices currently offered by the government.
“While prices of all ingredients have increased manifold, the department has increased the prices per meal by a meagre Rs 2 since the commencement of the scheme in 2006,” said the contractor, while speaking on the condition of anonymity.
“During the last six years, the prices of grams, a key ingredient in Bhaji, has increased from Rs 13 to Rs 30 per kilo, while bread prices during the same period increased from Rs 3 to Rs 4. Prices of onions and other vegetables have sky rocketed, in addition to the rising prices of petrol, cooking gas and oil.”
“In remote villages, we have to cover a distance of about 10 kms to supply meals to a school, where only 3-5 students are enrolled. Imagine the cost of petrol involved in supplying meals to these remote schools. The supplier earns only Rs 5 on the supply of meals, but spends almost double only on petrol,” the contractor added.
The contractor also complained about the government’s delay in clearing the bills. “For the current academic year, bills since June are pending,” the contractor said.
When contacted, the Sanguem Assistant District Education Inspector (ADEI) Dinkar Rane confirmed that the contractors involved in supplying meals to these schools had withdrawn their services on account of cost and time factors.
“This is because of the lengthy distance involved in supplying meals to schools and also on account of their inability to supply the meals in time,” said Rane.
Asked what he would do to find new contractors to supply the much-needed mid-day meals, Rane replied: “The appointment of a new contractor to supply meals is the responsibility of the Education department and my office has nothing to do with the appointment of the new contractors.”
