DJ Venkatesh
Diglipur, Dec 13: With a view to enhance enrollment, retention and attendance and simultaneously improving nutritional levels among children the government started the Midday Meal Scheme in schools, which is also covered by the National Food Security Act, 2013.
In Diglipur there are around 60 Government schools and one Vivekananda Kendra Zilla Parishad Vidyalaya those are providing midday meal, for which about 60 Development of Women and children in rural areas (DWCRA) groups are engaged.
Each DWCRA group consist of minimum 10 ladies, who buy the food items including firewood with their own money which are later paid to them by the administration usually within a period of 2-3 months.
But presently there are many such groups who are waiting for the payments since last 11 months by the administration and it is learnt that in the coming 3 months their tender is also going to expire.
Last month, when the Lt Governor visited GSSS Subhashgram, Diglipur, the DWCRA group members complained him about the issue they are facing and the Lt Governor also assured them that he will issue orders for their early payment.
Within 15 days the payment of the DWCRA group of the aforesaid school was released but the DWCRA group of the other 14 schools is still waiting for their payment. The midday meal payment is divided as Central share 75% and UT Share 25%. The Central share often gets late. Out of these, the payment liability is divided in three circles at Diglipur. 33 Schools are under DEO, 18 are under Principal GSSS Diglipur and 10 are under Principal GSSS Kalighat.
Three tenders are floated differently and payment is also made differently. Sources said that recently some payment was received for distribution but the payment for many DWCRA Group is still awaited.
The DWCRA groups prepare the meals by borrowing the food items from the local shop keepers except the eggs and firewood.
It is learnt that the shopkeepers have now warned them that if the payment is not done within this month they will not be provided credit any more. Left with no option now the DWCRA association members decided to go on strike from 01st Jan, 2017, if their pending payments are not released within this month.
