Irregular rice supply hits mid-day meal

Hyderabad: Lakhs of students accessing mid-day meal in government schools throughout the State have been forced to go hungry over the past few weeks, particularly from August 1st to 8th, as the stocks of rice meant for the prestigious mid-day meal scheme are not being supplied properly due to procedural lapses, wrangles and apathy. The result is chaos and finger-pointing at various levels.

While the authorities in government schools claim that they could not serve mid-day meal to students since August 1st since they did not have rice stocks with them, local leaders and parents squarely blame school managements for their abject failure to serve the meal. Despite availability of funds and ample rice stocks, the allocated rice quantities are reportedly not reaching schools in time, forcing headmasters to exercise the easier option: stop serving the meal.

Procedural lapses are known to be delaying the supply of rice every month of late. The Education Department officials want the government to simplify procedures so that mid-day meal can be served without any of the newly created impediments.
The government is serving mid-day meal to about 29 lakh students in the afternoon during working days in government

schools as part of the Mid-Day Meal scheme. The Centre and the State government provide funds for the scheme. However, the implementation of the scheme has gone awry of late, following the introduction of fine rice under the scheme in the State. Things have come to such a pass that if fine rice is not supplied in time, the scheme is given “a break (suspended)” in schools.

According to a mandal educational officer, schools used to serve the meal made with coarse rice until the government stepped in recently and started supplying fine rice. Previously headmasters used to procure rice from traders even on credit with a guarantee that it would be returned upon receipt of government supplies. However, following the introduction of fine rice, use of this facility has become difficult as HMs can no longer get rice on credit. Even if they choose to serve the mid-day meal made with coarse rice procured on credit from traders, they must now return only fine rice, which would result in irregularities in the scheme.

For example, due to delay in the supply of rice, the MDM was kept on hold (given a “break”, officially speaking) for five days in Shamshabad mandal, four days in Rajendranagar mandal, five days in Hayathnagar mandal and six days in Saroornagar mandal. A headmaster said that the supply of rice was being delayed these days due to procedural lapses.

As things stand, the mandal educational officer calls a meeting with the headmasters on 30th of every month and takes the indent. He would then submit the same to the district educational officer the next day. The requirement of rice is calculated for 30 days, starting from the first of the month. The DEO consolidates all the indents and places them before the District Supply Officer.

The DSO in turn issues release orders, which would be taken to the mandal revenue officer. The MRO finally releases the rice stocks to the headmasters.

However, if some schools delay submitting indents, the supply of rice in the entire lot would consequently get delayed. The delay is also taking place at the warehouses from where the rice is given to the headmasters and MEOs. If hamalis are not available and if there are no stocks at the warehouse, the supply of rice would be delayed.

This lacunae-laden procedure has been taking nearly ‘working’ 10 days and the headmasters are left with no rice from first of the month to tenth of the month. This is the main reason why the MDM scheme is given a “break” during this period.

According to another mandal educational officer, if the procedure could be eased so that the process can commence from the 28th of every month, rice stocks would reach schools in time and MDM could be implemented without a break.

Above all, the irresponsible behavior of some district supply officers is also affecting the implementation of the scheme. Officials of the Education Department of Rangareddy district alleged that the new DSO of Rangareddy has been delaying the issue of release orders.

An MEO who dared to confront the DSO about the delay was reportedly told rudely that there was no need for him to hurry when others did not make any complaint.

By NM Satheesh