Date:14/10/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/10/14/stories/2008101453660500.htm

Andhra Pradesh - Tirupati

Mid-day meal scheme takes off to a poor start

Special Correspondent.

TIRUPATI: The launch the mid-day meal scheme was marked by hiccups in Chittoor district. Sources attribute the two main reasons to this, namely, lack of adequate time to put in place the arrangements for a hassle-free implementation of the scheme and paltry allocation of funds to the scheme, i.e. Rs.4 per head, to cover all expenses .

The scheme which seeks to extend the noon-meal facility up to Class X level in as many as 584 high schools covering 1,76,630 students in the district was caught in a mire of problems as it got off to a start in the district on Monday. According to preliminary reports reaching here the scheme could be launched in 250 schools alone for a variety of reasons.

In some places, though it was implemented it covered only a section and not all the eligible students. For instance, sources said that in the century-old PCR high school at Chittoor, out of 1,400 eligible students, hardly 600 could be provided the meal while in another old (80 years)high school, the scheme did not take off at all.

Sources attribute the problem to non-supply of required quantity of rice , lack of adequate utensils, gas stoves and cylinders, vegetables and groceries, and trained cooks. The Collector and the Educational Officer are optimistic about the situation improving sooner than later.