Drunk headmaster, helper suspended

Children not given enough food under mid-day meals scheme, say villagers

The Block Education Officer has suspended the principal. An assistant to the cook of the ‘Bisi oota’ scheme has also been suspended.

It had been a daily affair in the Madihalli high school where the headmaster Puttaswamy Gowda would come drunk to the school. He came to the school in an inebriated state and asked the students to bury the toor dal as it was getting destroyed due to infestation.

The villagers saw the students and questioned them on why they were doing so. The students said they were following the instructions given by the headmaster.

Journalists arrived at the scene after being informed by the villagers and questioned the headmaster.

Puttaswamy Gowda denied that he was drunk and assured the journalists that everything was normal at the school. When questioned about why the midday meals were not provided to the students, he said that it was the responsibility of Ratnamma, a helper.

The villagers along with the journalists and the principal went to Ratnamma’s house where she had locked herself in and refused to come out. But  when the villagers threatened to break open the door she came out.

Ratnamma had a verbal duel with the villagers and journalists and threatened the journalist of severe action if her photo appeared in the newspaper or on television.

When the storeroom where the materials for the mid-day meal was kept was examined, to the shock of the people the grains were getting destroyed due to infestation. The children were daily given ‘rice bath’ complained the villagers. They accused Puttaswamy Gowda and Ratnamma of depriving children of food.

Zilla panchayat president B D Chandregowda, DDPI Chamaraj and BEO K S Prakash visited the school and suspended headmaster Puttaswamy and Ratnamma on the spot.