Primary school teachers decide to keep away from midday scheme

Nearly three lakh primary teachers in Bihar today decided not to participate in implementation of the midday meal scheme in schools from July 25.

The decision was taken at a state level meeting of primary school teachers here, President of Bihar Primary School Teachers Association Brajnandan Sharma said.
Sharma said the teachers complained that the implementation of the scheme took time and interfered with their teaching duties.

The scheme was also giving a bad name to the teachers because of corruption, he said.

Sharma said, the association several times in the past had urged the government to relieve primary school teachers from the midday meal scheme and employ some agency, which was not heeded.

A contaminated midday meal led to the death of 23 children at a primary school in Saran district on July 16.

The scheme was being implemented in 70,200 schools benefiting over 1.30 crore students.

The decision by the primary teachers would create more problems for the state government which was facing criticism over the tragedy and students consequently hesitant to eat the midday meal.