Khaira: Crores of rupees are spent under Sarva Sikhya Abhiyan to improve primary education and build infrastructure, but many schools under Khaira block in Balasore do not have kitchens. Teachers face lots of problems while preparing mid-day meals (MDM). They cook MDM under polythene roofs or trees.
Preparing noon meals under unsafe and unhygienic condition may be risky for children, it was alleged.
According to a report, MDM is implemented in 300 schools while 23,400 students benefit from the scheme in this block. Of 300 schools, 11 do not have kitchens and the authorities find it difficult to prepare MDM, causing discontent among guardians.
It was learnt that kitchens were set up in many schools with special fund.
The schools lacking kitchens are Rudhingia primary school, Rudhingia Gangadhar High school, Upendra Prasad High school at Ohada, Kaithagadia Ucha Vidyapeetha, Totapada High School, Sarkona High school, Budhijagulai Ucha Vidyapeetha, Alipur Shyamrai Sanskruta school and Gobindapur Bariksahi Adarsh Sanskruta school.
The report stated that these schools don’t have adequate classrooms for students. Local people lamented that while other schools have kitchens, it is unfortunate to deprive 11 schools of this facility.
“Over 300 students face problems at Rudhingia primary school as they do not have a kitchen to prepare MDM. This is injustice for children,” lamented Narendra Baral, the president of the school management committee.
District coordinator of SSA Surendra Sankhua, however said that there is no guideline to provide kitchen to any aided and block grant schools.
PNN