That the Mid-Day Scheme is meant for students in the schools, naturally brings the Headmasters, Headmistresses, and teachers in the picture. And for running the Scheme hassle-free post Bihar tragedy, the services of teaching staff become mandatory. Nothing wrong. The scheme must run safely and successfully. However, the moot question is: Are the teachers made for handling every minute detail of the Mid-Day Meal Scheme?
Nagpur News: The good-intentioned Government ‘s Mid-Day Meal Scheme has hidden a veiled dark side beneath the scheme. That the Mid-Day Scheme is meant for students in the schools, naturally brings the Headmasters, Headmistresses, and teachers in the picture. And for running the Scheme hassle-free post Bihar tragedy, the services of teaching staff become mandatory. Nothing wrong. The scheme must run safely and successfully. However, the moot question is: Are the teachers made for handling every minute detail of the Mid-Day Meal Scheme?
If the teachers are handed over the responsibilities of the Mid-Day Meal Scheme, of course, not every day, then what about the rightful duties of teachers. The Education. The teachers have to maintain a record of rice, grocery stocks, clean and protection aspects, serving food to students, quality of food etc All these aspects draw the attention of teachers a day or the other. In many schools, teachers have been assigned the jobs related to the food scheme which suck them for the entire day. And a mighty hot to Education, too. The teachers are assigned the job turn by turn. And, turn by turn and day by day the education also takes the brunt. No teacher in the world could focus only on education if his or her mind is continually struggling with facts and figures of Mid-Day Meal or any other scheme. Even though the responsibility of preparation of food is given to contractors, both food and fate of students could not be left at the mercy of the contractors. And the remedy for this problem lies with the teachers. And the remedy for education lies with invisible hands. Naturally, education, too, becomes invisible. In simple words: No lessons for students to learn.
PACKED FOOD: According to expert, the solution to all the problems could be sorted out by the packed food. The packed food will not only solve the problems of food cooking but also save the transportation of rice sacks, grocery, creating kitchen structure, purchasing of utensils, fuel arrangement etc. The teachers could also focus on their rightful duties the Education. And they will also be spared of “counting every grain of rice”.
THE RULES: According to Right to Education (RTE) Rules and Regulations, teachers cannot be assigned any work related to Mid-Day Meal Scheme. The teachers could only be assigned jobs of Census, Election Process, relief operations during Natural Tragedies. Moreover, if the teachers-on-food-duty gives a thought to move courts, all the parties including the Government at the loss. Loss of image of schools. Loss of face of Government. Loss of Students. And, finally, loss of Education.
Deepak Bajaj, President of Headmasters’ Association, said, “The Mid-Day Scheme burdened the teachers additionally. They are forced to neglect education which is their rightful duty.”
