Faridkot, December 23
It seems that the Education Department does not consider inflation while allocating funds under the mid-day meal scheme. Even as the last six months witnessed a sharp rise in the prices of vegetables, pulses and cereals, the department has not revised allocations under the scheme.
It forced the teachers to contribute from their own pocket to keep the hearths in schools burning.
In Faridkot district, for 55,541 primary and elementary students in 426 government schools, the teachers had to cough up Rs 25 lakh in the last one year to meet the increased expenses on meals due to high inflation.
Anjali Bhawra, Secretary, Education Department, said since cooking cost for mid-day meals was fixed by the Central Government, the schools had to manage with the money they got under the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan.
The department pays Rs 3.34 per student as cooking cost in primary schools. The cooking cost includes the prices of vegetables or pulses, oil, spices, sugar, milk and fuel. It was last revised from Rs 3.11 to Rs 3.34 per student at the primary level in December 2012.
In Faridkot district, against the expenditure of Rs 5.75 crore on mid-day meals in one year, the department allocated Rs 5.50 crore. It thus owes the shortfall of Rs 25 lakh to the teachers.
Under the scheme, primary class (I-V) students and elementary class (VI-VIII) students of government and government-aided schools are served mid-day meal in schools.
While there is an allocation of 100 gm cereal (wheat or rice) for every primary student, an elementary class student gets 150 gm of cereals per day. In Faridkot, the annual cereal consumption is 13,200 quintals. There are 950 cooks engaged on a salary of Rs 1,200 per month to cook meals.
It seems that the Education Department does not consider inflation while allocating funds under the mid-day meal scheme. Even as the last six months witnessed a sharp rise in the prices of vegetables, pulses and cereals, the department has not revised allocations under the scheme.
It forced the teachers to contribute from their own pocket to keep the hearths in schools burning.
In Faridkot district, for 55,541 primary and elementary students in 426 government schools, the teachers had to cough up Rs 25 lakh in the last one year to meet the increased expenses on meals due to high inflation.
Anjali Bhawra, Secretary, Education Department, said since cooking cost for mid-day meals was fixed by the Central Government, the schools had to manage with the money they got under the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan.
The department pays Rs 3.34 per student as cooking cost in primary schools. The cooking cost includes the prices of vegetables or pulses, oil, spices, sugar, milk and fuel. It was last revised from Rs 3.11 to Rs 3.34 per student at the primary level in December 2012.
In Faridkot district, against the expenditure of Rs 5.75 crore on mid-day meals in one year, the department allocated Rs 5.50 crore. It thus owes the shortfall of Rs 25 lakh to the teachers.
Under the scheme, primary class (I-V) students and elementary class (VI-VIII) students of government and government-aided schools are served mid-day meal in schools.
While there is an allocation of 100 gm cereal (wheat or rice) for every primary student, an elementary class student gets 150 gm of cereals per day. In Faridkot, the annual cereal consumption is 13,200 quintals. There are 950 cooks engaged on a salary of Rs 1,200 per month to cook meals.
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