Imphal, October 23 2009: Around 1,284 bags of rice mean for Mid-Day-Meal programme remained unused as schools where the rice is to be utilized in supplying meals to the students remained closed for the last more than one and half month as a result of indefinite class boycott stir of three students' bodies.

In Manipur, 1,85,570 children studying in government schools are availing the benefit of MDM scheme.

Out of this together around 44,078 students of lower and primary schools are estimated to be affected by the class boycott stir.

These schools are under the ZEO, Imphal West zone-I, Wangoi zone, Imphal east zone, schools at some part of Thoubal zone and Kakching zone, some part of Bishnupur zone of the state education department.

Out of the total 44,078 students affected, around 31,156 students are studying in the lower primary level schools while the rest 13,834 are in the upper primary level.

Around 1,285 bags of rice for MDM are lying un-utilized at the godown owing to the closer of the schools since September 9 last.

The said quantity of rice is remaining store at the government godowns and it will not be possible to supply the rice currently in the godown to supply after the re-opening of the schools.

Due to prolong storage at the godown, there were apprehensions of spoiling the rice with fungus.

Besides, immediate lifting of stir could not be expected in the prevailing condition.

There were no reports of government finding away to utilize the rice in other purposes.

The non-utilization of the rice can be treated as total failure of the Central sponsored Mid-Day-Meal programme in the state of Manipur.

The programme aim at giving a meal in a day to the students of lower and upper primary schools runs under the state education (s) department.

Around 1,284 bags of rice remaining undistributed are mean for the lower and upper primary government aided and government schools located in four valley districts, Imphal east, Imphal west, Bishnupur and Thoubal districts where are badly hit by the indefinite class boycott stir, an official source disclosed.

Centre had released the rice quota to the state government for onward distribution by the state education department to the schools.

As per the guidelines of the programme, students studying in the lower primary schools are to offer meal at the rate of 100 gm while 150 gm to each students studying at the upper primary level.

Above the apprehension of spoiling the rice, the state government is also spending around Rs 3.5 crore in a month in giving honorarium for the cooks engaged in the said schools affected by the class boycott stir.

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