SRIKAKULAM: As most of the school buildings, including cooking sheds, were damaged in the cyclone in the district, with no option left midday meal (MDM) agencies are cooking food in the open. The agencies have been cooking food in open-air for the last two weeks where there are chances of dust particles and dry leaves settling on the food.
As many as 1,192 schools in 19 mandals were damaged in the district and the loss was estimated to be Rs 30 crore. Majority of the MDM workers has been cooking food in open-air while a few workers with no other option prepare food at their houses and bring it to the schools.
“We have been cooking food in a small corner in the school building as the kitchen shed was destroyed in the cyclone,” said Anapana Padma, a MDM worker of primary school in Naupada village of Santabommali mandal.
As there was no space left in the school, MDM workers from Muchindara primary school in Ichchapuram mandal are cooking food at their house and bringing it to the school.
About 1,192 schools in 19 mandals were damaged in the cyclone in the district, said district education officer M Sairam.
As many as 789 primary schools, 183 upper primary schools, 190 high schools, 13 KGBV schools and seven mandal resource centres were damaged. Similarly, while about 210 schools were severely damaged, 417 schools partially and mild damage occurred to about 568 schools. He also said that majority of the kitchen sheds in the affected schools was damaged.
“On the whole we have estimated the loss to be of about `30 crore in the district,” the DEO added. Uprooted trees were removed and debris was cleared from the schools with the help of NDRF and the SDRF and fire officials.
However, the Andhra Pradesh Education and Welfare Infrastructure Development Corporation (APEWIDC) officials are taking up the restoration works in the damaged schools.
In addition to the allocated budget school managements have the funds for maintenance and development, he added.
Rs 2.6 cr for repair works
For minor repairs involving sheds, toilets and other damaged structures, the government released `2.61 crore for 261 schools from
21 mandals i.e., `10,000
for each school.