Headmasters not fully informed about Mid-day meal scheme
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, September 07, 2013:
Although Headmasters/Headmistresses are immediate implementing agencies of the Mid-Day Meal Scheme, many of them do not have adequate knowledge of the scheme.
According to an official source in the Education (S) Department, there have many flaws and lapses in implementing Mid-Day Meal scheme as many Headmasters and Headmistresses of schools are not fully aware of the scheme.
The department conducted a series of capacity building awareness campaign at 14 different covering all the districts recently.
It was during this campaign that many Headmasters and Headmistresses were found unaware of the guidelines, do's and don't and what exactly is the Mid-day Meal scheme.
Nonetheless, the campaign could spread awareness (about the campaign) to more than 3000 Headmasters and Headmistresses by way of interaction between officials of Education (S) and heads of educational institutions.
Food provided under the scheme is for supplementing food requirements, not to fill the stomach of school students.
However, some teachers simply provide food just to fill the stomach of students.
Notably, Mid-Day Meal Scheme was introduced in Manipur on November 14, 2004. Taking a cue from the success of the recent awareness campaign, the department is now planning another phase of awareness campaign and this time, the campaign would cover school management and development committees as well as cooks, added the source.