In the wake of the serious irregularities found in the implementation of the midday meal (MDM) scheme, Odisha Krushak Mahasangh president and former MlA Bibhudhendra Pratap Das on Saturday reiterated his demand to introduce a stipend system for students in place of serving cooked meals in the schools.
“The Bihar case has exposed the loopholes of the MDM system. In Odisha, the situation is not satisfactory so far as the quality of meals, availability of proper kitchens and supervision by higher authorities are concerned. Hence, to avoid a Bihar-like tragedy, the Government should implement a stipend system,” Das suggested, adding, “Though I had written a letter to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik in this connection a year ago, nothing positive has happened as yet.
He appealed to the Union and State Governments to divert and spend the fund (except infrastructure purposes) provided under Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) towards the educational stipend for students. Further, to avoid and check misappropriation of the stipend, its disbursement should be made to the students by postal pass books, he suggested.
“If any day, a student remains absent, the stipend money should be deducted proportionately,” he further suggested Though the State Government receives nearly Rs 11,000 crore of SSA fund annually, more than 60 per cent of it is misappropriated by an unholy nexus of Government officials and politicians, alleged Das. Hence, to avoid Bihar like situation, rampant corruption and to streamline education system, the Governments should implement the proposals, Das appealed.