The Brahmapur Mahanagar Nigam Elementary Teachers’ Association at an emergency meeting here on Friday unanimously decided to distance its members from the midday meal (MDM) programme in schools. The meeting was presided over by association president Rajesh Kumar Tarini.
Three months back, after consuming the cooked food supplied by the Nandi Foundation, more than 70 students from different schools under Sheragada block in Ganjam district had fallen ill and were admitted to the local medical college hospital which led to a public debate. The then Brahmapur Sub-Collector issued a circular directing the teachers to supervise and determine the quality of the food before it being served to children to avoid any further eventuality.
After the teachers’ association’s protests, the circular was withdrawn. Ironically, an earthworm was found in the cooked food supplied by the Nandi Foundation to one of the schools under the Brahmapur Municipal Corporation (BMC) recently, creating huge public outcry. Now, the district administration is reportedly contemplating to issue directives to teachers once again to supervise the food preparation in school kitchens and determine the quality of food. If the teachers are compelled once again to look into food preparation then their association would strongly protest the order and be forced to launch agitation, said association president Tarini.
The association unanimously passed a resolution urging the Government not to entrust any such work to teachers as it is nonacademic in nature. The association also urged the teachers working in different blocks to dissociate from MDM programme and devote their valuable time to impart teaching to students. The association has informed the matter to the district administration, sources said. It may be recalled that being stung by the Saran tragedy in Bihar, about three lakh primary teachers had announced on Tuesday their decision to stop participation in the MDM scheme in 70,200 schools across that State.
Supporting the cause of the teachers in Ganjam district, former Assembly Deputy Speaker Rama Chandra Panda said teachers are meant for teaching and other academic programmes and they should not be entrusted with any other work as it dilutes the whole academic ambience of an educational institution. The Government should implement the MDM scheme through an independent agency under the administrative control of the Department of Food and Civil Supplies.