Government schoolteachers in Jharkhand have decided to detach themselves from Midday Meal (MDM) scheme from September 1 onwards. The reason behind this is citied that for any untoward incident in MDM scheme teachers are held responsible but the NGOs and committees who are assigned the job are not held accountable.
The Jharkhand primary teacher association has written to the Chief Secretary, Principal Secretary HRD department and Director of Primary education about dissociation of government teachers from MDM scheme and had requested the authority to conduct a throw enquiry in context of disseminating the responsibility of Saraswati Vahini operating committee who prepares the MDM.
Secretary of Jharkhand Primary Teacher Association, Ram Murti Thakur said, “I have written letter to senior officials concerning the matter. It is harassing the teachers as are they are blamed for the work which is not done by them.” He further added, “In Ranchi Mid-day Meal is being prepared by Saraswati Vahini Operating Committee. In case of any default the members of this committee should be answerable not the Government school teachers.”
A teacher at Zila School Mukesh Sharma said, “The role of school teachers is only to bring rice from warehouse and maintain records. The entire marketing and preparation work is done by the committee who has been assigned the job by the Government. After Midday meal tragedy in Bihar that claimed 23 students death, had worsen the condition of teachers. All government school teachers across the state had decided to free themselves from MDM scheme.”
District Superintendent of Education (DSE) Jayant Kumar Mishra said, “I have received the letter from teacher association. MDM scheme is an essential element of the school as majority of students seeks their diet and nutrition out it. In any circumstances MDM scheme will not be closed. We will try to find a mid way solution for it. We will held a meeting soon and discuss on the matter.”
“If Government teachers free themselves from the scheme then two or three NGO and school managing committee will be joined together so that the scheme is carried out in all the schools smoothly,” he added.President of Sarswati Vahini Operating Committee Aghanu Oraon said, “Our concern is to ensure that every student receive Midday meal if teachers detach themselves from the committee then also the work will be carried out.”
However the officials of Human Resources Development Department could not be contacted for their comments on the issue.Thousands of students will be affected if teachers dissociate themselves from midday meal scheme.