EMN
Dimapur, May 1
A recent demand for information concerning the implementation of the mid-day meal scheme for Mokokchung district might give citizens the gut feeling that something might not be right: the education authorities have no record of school-wise distribution of “items.”
That was one of the only three questions out of seven posed by a concerned citizen to the School Education department that the authorities could answer – that too, all in the negative.
Citizen ST Yapang Lkr, from Kohima sought information under the Right to Information (RTI) from the School Education authorities in January this year. He sought information specific to the post-matric scholarships and the midday meal scheme for Mokokchung.
The citizen issued a letter to the media, besides offering copies of the reply from the School Education authorities.
Images of the department’s reply show that the department did not have school-wise records of items distributed under the scheme. Even more shockingly, records pertaining to post-matric scholarship for the years 2011-2012 and 2012-2013 are “not available with the department.” The letter from Lkr said:
“In an RTI response from First Appellate Authority and Director. School Education, Govt. of Nagaland NO.ED/RTI-B/2014-15 Dated, Kohima the 14/03/16 said that ‘Every school going child in the primary sector on every school working day is to be provided MDM. The guideline for the scheme is to provide hot cooked meal 450 calories and 12 grams of protein to every child at primary level and 700 calories and 20 grams of protein to upper primary level.’”
However, the citizen said, no school in Mokokchung district was found ‘practicing the Mid Day Meal guidelines stipulated by the government.’
In the same RTI, the citizen said to have sought answers about the quantity of rice and the number of days for which the meal was provided for the years 2011-2012 to 2014-15.
“But since the all the SDEOs under Mokokchung district could not answer the questions…” the letter stated. “Therefore it is compelling us to lodge a second appeal against your department. There is a proof that the rice quantity for Mid Day Meal in Mokokchung district is of poor quantity. Is it because some people who are in-charge of the supply switched the rice quantity in between? Or is it the culprit of the supplier? We are hopeful to root these problems out when the time comes.”
The citizen also said that the public and schools jointly address the matter publicly would be ‘beneficial. “The Mid Day Meal is sanctioned, but the children go hungry, therefore we would like to know whether it is the fault of the government or there is something else,” Lkr stated.
The citizen also wondered whether the anomalies were because the centre and state were providing less. “Or is it that the teachers are taking it?” the letter added.
