Baripada: Serving of meager amount of curry in midday meals (MDM) sparked resentment Monday among the students of Binodray Government Upper Primary School under Rasagovindpur block in the Mayurbhanj district. The irked students walked with plates containing rice only to the office of the block development officer (BDO), Lalatendu Kumar Singh, about 400 metres away from their school building, and staged a demonstration. The agitating students relented after Singh, BEO Satish Chandra Mohapatra, CDPO Parbati Soren, and headmistress Dhanamani Tudu met them and assured action within a fortnight after conducting a probe. The school has 261 students studying from Classes VI to VIII.
A local women’s self-help group (SHG) has been entrusted with the task of preparing mid-day meals for the students. The students alleged that there is a shortage of curry every day when their meals. are served. They blamed the members of the SHG for their predicament. The students also alleged that earlier the school management committee had informed the BDO of this issue.
However, nothing happened and the students had to do with whatever amount of curry was offered to them. At times, they had to eat plain rice and dal only as there was no curry on offer. Finally, the students and their guardians lost their cool Monday and staged a protest.
Locals have alleged that the SHG is responsible for such a situation and said that a portion of the raw materials is regularly taken away by its members. The guardians and the locals have warned of an agitation if the matter is not solved immediately and proper action is initiated.