Harish Rao flays State govt for pathetic mid-day meal situation in government schools

Students at a government school in Kothapally are eating rice with only chili powder and oil due to the State government's failure to pay for mid-day meals and salaries for cook-cum-helpers. Senior BRS leader T Harish Rao criticised the government's negligence and called for immediate action from Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka.

Hyderabad: Due to unavailability of proper mid-day meals and unable to control their hunger, students of the government school in Kothapally of Kotagiri mandal, Nizamabad district were reportedly forced to consume rice with just chilli powder and oil. The alarming situation is being attributed to the State government’s failure to clear pending bills against supplies for mid-day meals scheme and also pending salaries to cook-cum-helpers.

Sharing the ordeal of the students on X, senior BRS leader T Harish Rao condemned the Congress government’s reckless attitude. “It is unfortunate and painful to see the government act irresponsibly towards the future citizens of India,” he said.

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నిజామాబాద్ జిల్లా కోటగిరి మండలం కొత్తపల్లి ప్రభుత్వ పాఠశాలలో శుక్రవారం సరైన భోజనం లేక ఆకలితో ఉన్న విద్యార్థులు కారం, నూనెతో అన్నం కలుపుకుని కడుపు నింపుకొన్నారు. ప్రభుత్వం భావిభారత పౌరుల పట్ల ఇంత బాధ్యతారహితంగా వ్యవహరించడం బాధాకరం.

విద్యార్థులకు పౌష్టికాహారం కోసం అందించే సిఎం… pic.twitter.com/7zmh8fv81S

— Harish Rao Thanneeru (@BRSHarish) August 4, 2024

He stated that the State government which had cancelled the Chief Minister’s Breakfast scheme meant to provide nutrition for poor students, has now utterly failed to provide proper meals to students studying in government schools. He blamed the government’s sheer negligence for the poor condition of students who are being deprived of the essential nutrition.

Harish Rao called on Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka to take immediate action. “I request Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka to respond immediately, clear pending bills and workers’ salaries to ensure that the stomachs of students studying in the government schools are filled,” he urged.

Following Harish Rao’s post on poor quality food being served to students, the Nizamabad District Education Officer conducted an enquiry.

Accordingly, instructions were issued to the cooks, head masters and teachers. Steps have also been taken to provide quality meals to the students from Monday, according to an official statement.

The District Education department officials said Rs.58.69 crore was released so far towards payment of arrears to the midday meal workers. Another Rs.18 crore would be released on Monday, officials said in the statement.

Similarly, the cooking expenses to be paid from first to eighth standard standards, besides the salary of Rs.1000 to the cooks, were paid till June.

These payments were being made every month. Likewise, funds have been released till June for paying bills related to the salary of Rs.2,000 to the cooks.

The salary for July would be released on Monday, they said.