Uncertainty still looms over the fate of Mid-Day-Meal (MDM) scheme as there are mixed signals with regard to the total boycott of the scheme besides preparations of the Human Resource Development department to mitigate the impact on the beneficiaries of the scheme across Jharkhand.
While different teachers’ associations have divergent mode of coercion to make Government yield to the demand of separating teachers from the MDM, they converge on the demand that the scheme is not what they were initially entrusted with — teaching. “We too believe that we should be relieved from the responsibility of MDM however we are not going to stop it mid-way,” said Secretary of Rashtriya Shaikshik Sangh, Siddheshwar Prasad.
Significantly, the Rashtriya Shaikshik Sangh has decided to distance itself from the call given by another association, All Jharkhand Primary Teachers Association (AJPTA), and has said that schools where they are in majority will not be affected because of the call. “Keeping in view the interest of children we have decided to boycott the call itself,” added Prasad.
Interestingly, the more one digs more the mystery deepens around the MDM and the department’s preparations to counter the inevitable. The AJPTA has vowed not to retract from its deadline to disassociate from MDM however the HRD department believes that they have ample time to placate the defiant association.
“We will do what we have said. We cannot pullback under any promise as we have been duped so many times in the past,” said General Secretary AJPTA, Ram Murty Thakur. For the AJPTA the government is buying time in the name of solving the matter and has resorted to futile problem solving techniques. The association has turned down the offer given by the HRD department.
“We had a discussion on 27 of this month with the State in-charge of MDM. He suggested holding a workshop (to evolve a solution ) for which permission has been given by the Principal Secretary HRD,” added Thakur. Although, the association has turned down any suggestion envisaged to solve the problem the department is still banking on it as the only way out in the present context.
Notably, the Principal Secretary articulated that the department has no intension to deal with the situation with iron hand but will resort to punitive actions if the association refused to budge from its stand. Principal Secretary HRD Dr DK Tiwari said, “We do not want to take any tough actions instead we will try to convince them” and if they do not budge then we will be forced to take some actions.