The decision of about three lakh primary schoolteachers in Bihar to dissociate themselves from implementation of Mid-Day Meal Scheme (MDMS) from Thursday is likely to affect the programme covering 1.30 crore students in the State.
Stung by the Saran tragedy which has indicted the role of teachers, the Bihar Primary Schoolteachers Association (BPSTA) on Tuesday announced to stop participation in the implementation of the MDMS in 70, 200 schools across the State from Thursday.
The decision was taken at a state-level meeting of primary schoolteachers. The decision will create more problems for the State Government, which is facing criticism over the tragedy.
President of BPSTA Brajnandan Sharma said the teachers complained that the implementation of the scheme took time and interfered with their teaching duties.
“The scheme was also giving a bad name to the teachers because of corruption involved in the implementation. The association had urged the Government several times in the past to relieve schoolteachers from the scheme and employ some agency, but it was not heeded,” Sharma said.
HRD Ministry, which is the nodal agency for the implementation of MDMS, made it mandatory for teachers to taste the food before serving and record the same in a register. A contaminated midday meal led to the death of 23 children at a primary school in Saran district on July 16.
The probe report of Commissioner (Saran) and Deputy Inspector General of Police (Saran range) Binod Kumar submitted to the State Government has blamed the school principal for the tragedy.