The noon meal scheme is crucial in more ways than one. Not only does it ensure that every child’s nutritional needs are taken care of, it increases school enrolment. Notwithstanding the meals, dropout rate has been high in Jagatsinghpur district.
Large-scale irregularities, pilferage of foodgrains and less funds are among the few reasons that have crippled the scheme in this district. Situation has come to such a pass where schoolteachers and SHGs have to sell rice to purchase eggs and firewood. Owing to the irregularities, noon meals are not provided on Saturdays in around 25 schools of the district and in some other schools, it is only on two days.
MDM has been completely stopped in primary schools of Deopada, Parisikhar and Angeswerpada and other three under Naugaon block.
As per reports, around 1.11 lakh students of 1,570 primary schools and 708 upper primary schools are covered under the MDM scheme. While Rs 1.07 crore is spent by primary schools per annum towards purchase of foodgrains and other commodities, the amount is Rs 1.10 crore for upper primary schools.
Similarly, Rs 3.98 lakh is spent on fuel and payment to cooks and assistants in primary schools and Rs 3.66 lakh for upper primary schools per annum.
Despite all this, the scheme has not been able to check dropout rate or improve the enrolment rate in schools.
Sources said every bag of 50 kg rice, supplied to the schools, would have around 10 to 20 kg of rice less.
School authorities said although complaints in this regard are being registered with the nodal officer for the scheme, no action is taken.
This apart, funds for purchase of firewood, eggs and soyabean chunks under the MDM scheme are meagre. Although on an average, Rs 3.65 is allocated per a meal per student, school authorities said a proper meal costs Rs 5 to 7. “We are buying eggs from open market at Rs 5 each, but the Government is providing just Rs 3.40 for one egg. Similarly, it gives us just 25 paise per student for firewood, but the required amount is Rs 2 to 3,” said a teacher on condition of anonymity. To worsen things, heads of many schools are accused of embezzling MDM rice, eggs and other commodities. Headmistress of Nahatipada primary school under Naugaon block Sanjukta Mishra was recently suspended for allegedly selling MDM rice in open market. In another case, Naugaon Police seized a bag of 50 kg rice from the trunk of headmaster of Angeswerpada upper primary school, Ashok Swain.
District project coordinator of Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, Nirmal Das, said: “We are trying to streamline the MDM scheme”.