Southern States - Andhra Pradesh-Hyderabad   

Teachers not accountable for meal scheme lapses: PRTU

By Our Staff Reporter

HYDERABAD Jan. 7. The Progressive Recognised Teachers' Union (PRTU) has appealed to the Government not to make teachers scapegoats for the `omissions and the commissions' in the implementation of the mid-day meal scheme.

The State PRTU executive which met on Sunday resolved that though teachers had no responsibility in the distribution of rice and cooking of food, they were being harassed for any lapses through suspensions and surrenders by the Government, leaving the officials concerned.

The PRTU president, B. Mohan Reddy, and general secretary, P. Sudhakar Reddy, told mediapersons here on Tuesday that two deputy inspectors of schools were surrendered by the Ranga Reddy Collector, three teachers were suspended in Nizamabad, and one teacher was suspended in Khammam. "It is unfair to punish the teachers when they are not responsible either for cooking or for supply of rice.''

The mid-day meal no doubt was a good scheme and significantly improved attendance in schools.

However, to make it work in the long term, they demanded that permanent measures like a water tank, a kitchen and cooks be provided at every primary school and the scheme should be extended to sixth and seventh class students of high schools also instead of restricting it to upper primary schools alone.

They suggested that the quantity of rice be increased from the present 150 gm to 200 gm and the contingency fund be fixed at Rs. 2 per student in schools with less than 100 students and Rs. 1.75 per student, where the strength was beyond 100. Contingency workers be appointed through Vidya Committees to keep the school premises clean and a medical kit be provided to each school.

The lunch hour duration should be increased to 90 minutes to enable teachers take their lunch after that of students.

The PRTU executive further suggested that the implementation of the scheme in rural areas also be handed over to NGOs as proposed in twin cities. The teachers would of course monitor the attendance but they should be allowed to concentrate more on teaching.

The PRTU with 3 lakh membership would organise education seminars in all the districts in line with the Government policy of `Education for All' in February and March to come out with suggestions to bring down the dropout rate, reform the examination system, objective-based teaching and evaluation, professionalism among teachers, etc., they said.

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