The Hindu : Govt. rejects criticism on breakfast scheme

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Apr 23, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Pondicherry

Govt. rejects criticism on breakfast scheme

By Our Staff Reporter

Pondicherry April 22. The Chief Minister, N. Rangasamy, told the Assembly today that the `Rajiv Gandhi free breakfast scheme', launched by the Department of Education last year to distribute bread and milk to school children, continued to be operated although biscuit in place of bread was being given to children along with milk.

Replying to criticisms made by an AIADMK member, A. Anbalagan, on the modalities adopted to implement the scheme, Mr. Rangasamy said as soon as some the scheme faced some hiccups, the Administration took quick steps to ensure that the scheme continued. There was no need for the Government to hush up any detail. Some steps like dissolution of the board of directors of the cooperative milk producers union were taken for administrative reasons.

He said a committee headed by the district Collector studied the operation of the scheme and came out with suggestions to improve the scheme.

The Education Minister, K. Lakshminarayanan, said rumours were set afloat on September 5 last year causing panic among parents and school authorities even though nothing serious had occurred. Only 22 children were brought to the hospital for observation and they were discharged the same day.

The BJP member, A.M. Krishnamoorthy, said the scheme was aimed at making political gains. One was left wondering as to how the AICC president, Sonia Gandhi, was associated with the launching of the scheme.

The ruling party members said Mrs. Gandhi was the Opposition leader in the Lok Sabha and her status was equal to that of a Central Minister. Hence there could be no criticism of her participation.

The Speaker, M.D.R. Ramachandran, said the member could not criticise the participation of the Opposition leader in view of the status she enjoyed.

When Mr. Krishnamoorthy went ahead with his criticisms, the Congress members, including former Chief Minister, V. Vaithilingam, said the multi-crore Indian Institute of Information Technology Pondicherry project, which was launched by the Prime Minister, Mr. A.B. Vajpayee, some four years ago had become invisible. "Where had the scheme and project gone?"

R. Siva (DMK) said only 30 per cent of schools had now been implementing the scheme.

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Govt. rejects criticism on breakfast scheme