Mid Day Meal scheme, Anganwadi centres in disarray: RB Koijam
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, June 29 2011: Almost all the Anganwadi centers in the state and the Mid Day Meal scheme presently implemented in the state under the Sarva Sikshya Abhiyan is in complete disarray condition, said MLA Radhabinod Koijam.

Distributing school uniforms to students of 15 schools under SSA scheme of Imphal West Zone I (one) at Thangmeiband in a function, Radhabinod said that the country is full of poor people.

The SSA scheme is a nice scheme to provide free education to poor students.

Huge amounts are being sanctioned for Mid Day Meal programme under SSA scheme.

Unfortunately the corrupt nature of the implementing agencies across the country is playing a major role in the failure of the programme including Manipur.

There were many instant when cockroaches were found in the meal provided to the school children.

There are many irregularities and delays in appointing cooks, providing rice and other grains.

On the other hand the various Anganwadi centers across the state implemented under the ICDSA project are not working properly.

Many are found indulging in laundering the milk and rice provided to them by not feeding them to the children.

Appointment of unmarried women as workers and helpers is also a major issue in the prevailing issue of the improper functioning of the centers.

Such workers or helpers when married to far places failed to run the centers under them even though they regularly take the provided milk and rice for the children, he said.

Fed up with such corrupt nature and irregularities in the proper functioning of the Anganwadi centers, he himself had advises the then Chief Secretary Jarnel Singh to look into the matter following which Vigilance Commission started enquiry in the matter.

Even some Angwanwadi workers and helpers took him as an enemy for interfering in their self interested business, Radhabinod added.

He further said that the Government of India under its various flagship programmes is taking up many initiatives for the poor and needy ones for their welfare by spending huge amounts.

Unfortunately corrupt natures of many officials with vested interest are making a hindrance in the success of such schemes and projects.

He also cautioned the people of the state of scores of such corrupt officials and people in the state who would rob the government fund by blindfolding public.

It is high time for the state to chalk out a special education system and planning to improve quality of education at a higher pace.

It is very important to check whether the Inspectors of the state education department are departing their duties sincerely or not.

It would also be wise for the government and concern departments to find the root cause of many unsuccessful government schools in HSLC examinations.

Government machineries with their insincere ways of departing their duties have became the credit scores of various social organisations lately.

Only if the government and its machineries do their duties sincerely with an obligation, then there will be no one in the world to find their faults and criticize them, Radhabinod said.

Radhabinod was attending the function as chief guest.

President MEELAL N Naodalenkhomba was the president of the function.

President, Thangmeiband Kendra Development Committee Ch Dinachandra also attended as guest of honour.

A total of 1289 students including 597 boys and 691 girls of 15 government schools under Thangmeiband AC were provided with free uniforms in the function.

In a speech, ZEO Zone I (one) Gopimohon Maibam reiterated that the present pitiable condition of government schools in the state is due to insufficient infrastructures, frequent transfer of teachers and flaw in management.

Besides teachers in government schools lack sincerity and spirit of a real teacher.

However the situation has changed to some extent since many teachers are coming forward to depart their duties sincerely with a dedication.

In such situation, the teachers are unable to go to their full might due to lack of infrastructures.

While some schools are short of teaching staff, many schools are found with overpopulated staff giving a sign of inefficient management strategies.

Moreover support from parents and guardians of the students are also important for overall development of the government schools in the state, he added.

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