The mid-day meal scheme is in doldrums. The Self-Help Groups (SHGs) supplying wholesome meals to school students are running out of patience having to make do without funds for the last eight months. With borrowing becoming the order of the day, the quality of food served too has deteriorated.
There are 235 schools in the block with 14,740 students on their rolls who are covered under the scheme. The Government is required to transfer funds for the purpose into the account jointly held by the headmaster of a school.
The SHGs have now expressed their inability to continue with the job. How long can we borrow eggs, vegetables, dal and oil, questioned an SHG member.
Expressing helplessness, BDO Purna Chandra Das blamed the Block Resource Centres for the mess. They are not submitting reports despite repeated requests, he said.
BRC Bhaskar Rao, on the other hand, said he is yet to receive bills and vouchers from the headmasters. He, however, admitted having received bills for three months from January to March and said funds would be transferred to the accounts soon.
Collector Sashi Bhusan Padhi said the MDM has not been stopped and would enquire as to why funds had not been transferred.