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Kerala Kaumudi Online
Saturday, 15 February 2025 12.42 AM IST

Two issues that await immediate intervention

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There are two vital problems in the state which are being ignored by many people including the government for a long time. One of them is related to the school midday meal. The second is the warning that there is going to be a disruption in the distribution of rations. Needless to say, these two issues are going to directly affect the common people of the society. It is said that the school midday meal scheme was started in Kerala for the first time in the country. The school midday meal scheme, which was started for children from very poor families, was later expanded to include all children up to class VIII. It is borne by the central and state governments. However, both the state and the centre are showing laxity in providing the necessary funds for the smooth running of this project.


It is the responsibility of the state to see to it that the model scheme for curbing hunger among school children is undisturbed. Unfortunately, the government's financial crisis is straining the mid-day meal program as well. The teachers' unions have been protesting for a long time over the arrears related to mid-day meal distribution. The government has to pay not 10 or 20 but more than 150 crore rupees in arrears. The teachers' organizations have warned that if this money is not received immediately, they will stay away from the lunch program from January 17. Headteachers are responsible for distributing mid-day meals in schools. The distribution of lunch to the children is carried out somehow by taking money from their own pockets or taking loans.

The issue has reached the court several times. The court even issued an order to summon the senior officer in charge. The government escaped by paying a part of the arrears before the due date. However, the arrears continued to increase. Actions can be taken to settle the arrears by any means, even in instalments. Intervention is the only option in matters that require urgent intervention. Children waiting for mid-day meals do not need to look at the government's financial issues and justifications.

It is the strike by the suppliers of ration products that has created a situation where the ration shops have to be locked. Many shops are running out of food grains and other ration products. The strike of the suppliers started a few days ago but the way to solve the problem is still not clear. Four organizations of ration traders have announced a joint strike from the 27th of this month. Disputes over changing the scanner in the e-POS machine are leading the ration traders to strike. It is the poor who face hardships as there are often strikes in the ration shops for one reason or the other. Most of the families belonging to this category are dependent on ration grains. Even temporary interruptions can disrupt their meals.

Frequent reforms in the distribution of rations and shop management result in hardships for the people. If there is a complaint from the people regarding the reform, the government should take an effort to resolve it promptly. Many, including contractors, are at loggerheads with the government over arrears. Many of the projects have been reduced by almost half but still cannot be sustained. How long can this go on?

TAGS: RATION, SCHOOL
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