MAPUSA: Self-help groups providing mid-day meals to schools have not been paid their dues by the Education Department since the last four months.
Women working with these self-help groups have complained that they do not have enough money to provide meals to schools.
Aggrieved, the members of a self help group went to the Education Department on Thursday to question why their bills have not been paid. However, they could not meet the Education Director as the official was unavailable.
Women working with these self-help groups say that the Education Department wants students to be provided with nutritious food, but they are not being given the money and hence they do not have funds to provide the students with mid-day meals.
“Not a single bill of the last four months has been cleared. When we went to the department, we learnt that our bills were not sent to the accounts section. We do not have money to buy a cylinder right now. How are we to supply quality food? The Education Director was unavailable also. Our bill of Rs 12 lakh is pending,” a self help group member said.
