KARIMNAGAR: The midday meal scheme during summer has hit a bump with only few takers turning up for it on the first day, thanks to the sweltering heat. With mercury touching its peak level on Wednesday too, most of the students remained at homes instead of venturing out in hot summer. While students expressed that they were being forced to attend special classes and take midday meals, parents said they were not satisfied with the scheme as some students have to travel nearly two to three kilometres to reach the respective school in the district.
Meanwhile, the Express team on Wednesday paid visit to some of the schools to learn about the situation and interest of the students. At Savaran Government High School in Karimnagar Town, around eight students attended as against 320. Similarly, at ZP High School at Alugunur in Thimmapur mandal, 10 students attended as against 92.
Speaking to Express team, headmaster of Government Primary School at Sadashivapalli in Manakondur mandal B Venkataramanana said, “Over five students trekked two kilometres distance to reach the school, while returning, they went in scorching heat.”
Opposing the midday meals during summer vacations, the government school teachers suggested that instead of meals, government should have supplied rice and pulses through the fair price shops. This way the government is wasting crores of rupees, they felt.
In the district, 2.12 lakh students are to be benefited under midday meals scheme from 1,955 primary schools, 327 upper primary schools and 644 high schools. Among the 2,926 schools, nearly 520 schools have no drinking water facility and another 998 schools have no kitchen rooms. “How can we prepare food and ensure drinking water in the prevailing drought condition,” school authorities wondered.