The central government’s sponsored Mid-day meal (MDM) scheme, under which lunch is provided to government school students up to class 8, is turning into a nightmare for the teachers who look after it.
A number of government teachers, who hold the charge of Mid-day meal scheme in their schools, while talking to media on the condition of anonymity, said, “The poor response of authorities towards clearance of old liabilities is putting us through severe psychological pressure.”
“In the last three sessions, that is 2015-16, 16-17 and 17-18, payments to the teachers, who buy the ingredients from their own pocket to be reimbursed later by the government, are still pending for several months. The government owes some teachers even more than Rs 50,000,” a teacher said.
Another teacher, who is the in-charge of that scheme at a government middle school in Rajouri zone said, “The government owes me more than Rs 70,000 for running the mid-day meal scheme. I face a lot of financial burden as my salary is not sufficient. Besides, the salary to SSA teachers remains pending for several months. It all just adds to the stress.”
Sharing details, he said, “For the 2015-16 session, I am yet to receive payment from the government for one month.
Also, the government owes me three months money from December 2015 to February 2016. For the 2016-17 session, the government still hasn’t reimbursed me for one month of food for primary level classes and three months for middle classes, starting from December 2016 to February 2017.”
