The State government launched its midday meal programme in drought-affected taluks for school children on April 11, but a large number of children who had enrolled for it are not turning up. As a result, a large quantum of food is being wasted.
According to records with the Department of Public Instruction (DPI), although parents of around 20 lakh children had signed up, on an average only around 10 to 12 lakh students are coming to schools during meal time.
Yadgir, Kalaburagi lowest
Ironically, the districts which have the least number of children turning up are Kalaburagi (36% ) and Yadgir (33%), which are experiencing the worst dry spell. In fact, the soaring temperatures in north Karnataka could be one of the reasons why parents are not allowing their children to step outdoors, officials said. The district which has reported the highest number of children having midday meals are Chitradurga (82%) and Udupi (82%).
The midday meal programme during summer holidays which began on April 11 will go on till May 27 in as many as 160 of the 176 taluks in the State that have been declared drought-hit.
On regular school days, 56 lakh students from 55,287 schools are part of the midday meal programme. For the summer holidays, the department has mapped schools where the food will be served.
“We have ensured that children do not have to travel far to get their midday meal. If students are going out of town, we have also given them the option of having their meals in the village or district they are going to during the course of the summer holidays,” said a DPI official.
An official said that there was also the possibility of headmasters, who are in charge of reporting on how many children turn up, not doing it in time.
The official said that a reminder would be sent to schools to provide details on the number of children who have availed of midday meals, failing which they will not get grants for the programme. Another reason for low attendance could be that many of the students might have relocated during summer vacation.
Wastage
Aslam Khan, president, Karnataka State Urudu School Development and Monitoring Committee Federation, said, “In several schools, food is being wasted as the officials are insisting that children should come and eat the meals. Despite senior officials stating that it should not be compulsory, many of the headmasters are insisting that children should come and eat the food,” he said.
