Has this scheme proved fruitful?

MUCH AMBITIOUS mid-day meal scheme is yet to fulfill its objective in the district. The scheme at several primary schools, especially in trans-Yamuna area, states a sad story.

MUCH AMBITIOUS mid-day meal scheme is yet to fulfill its objective in the district. The scheme at several primary schools, especially in trans-Yamuna area, states a sad story.

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Primary school teachers felt the scheme had failed to leave any impact on the health of children as well as in improvement of drop out rate of students.

Savitri, principal of primary school in Bara, said that the scheme could be giving little relief to poor students but it had affected the teaching at the school because as the meal was being prepared the entire attention of students was drawn towards it. As a result the students could not concentrate in the class.

Cases of malnutrition were also being reported from rural areas. Teaching was already passing through a critical phase due to shortage of teachers and now mid-day meal also contributed in its deterioration, said Ravi Shankar, teacher of the same school.

Apart from that gram pradhans have been facing a tough time in implementation of the scheme properly. They alleged that the existing convergent money was not sufficient to maintain the standard of meals and quantity served to students daily. Sukhram, gram pradhan of village Chabiya said he had no time to take proper care of the scheme.

On the other hand, officials at the Basic Education Department were very optimistic with the results of the scheme. According to them it had improved the attendance of students at many primary schools.

Now students are apprised of the menu of their mid-day meal scheme in advance from the current academic session. This step has been taken in view of many complaints recieved from the district. Besides, the menu and other details are also mentioned on the notice board of every school daily.