Odisah Krushak Mahasangha president and former MlA Bibhudhendra Pratap Das has suggested that the Central Government should not agree to the State Government’s proposal for continuance of midday meal (MDM) and instead of the meal, the money should be credited to the postal accounts of the students.
Das in a letter to the Prime Minister and the Union Minister of Human Resource Development said that MDM scheme has witnessed large scale irregularities and at times, poisonous and substandard foods served to the students have posed a threat to the lives.
The farmer leader said since the children of poor farmer families in the rural schools are major beneficiaries of the scheme, their life is under threat.
He also lamented that due to serving of poisonous food, many kids have been killed while hundreds others suffered from ailments.
Das said the direct cash transfer to their accounts would encourage students and their guardians to take interest in school education which would lead to fast increase in attendance rate in schools.