Andhra Pradesh: mid-day meal scheme is not being properly implemented in Agency areas of ASR district, several MPTC members complain at Visakhapatnam ZP meet

“We are not being allowed into schools by authorities for surprise inspections’

A number of MPTC members from Agency areas of Alluri Sitharama Raju district have complained about improper implementation of mid-day meal scheme in the government schools. The elected representatives from Araku, Hukumpeta, Pedabayulu and a few other mandals alleged that the mid-day meals are being properly offered to the children only when some officials conduct inspections with intimation, but not every day. They raised the issue during the general body meeting of the Zilla Parishad here on Saturday. Zilla Parishad Chairperson J. Subhadra presided over the meeting.

The MPTC members said that when they go to the school for surprise checks without informing the school authorities, they are not being allowed. Pedabayalu MPTC member informed that he was stopped at the gate when he had gone for surprise check for about an hour.

IT Minister Gudivada Amarnath, who is also the in-charge Minister for ASR district, expressed unhappiness over such incidents. He said that the State Government is spending huge amounts on education and such incidents will not be tolerated. The Minister said that he would conduct surprise checks without intimation. Strict action will be initiated against those responsible, he warned.

Similarly, issues surrounding schools in ASR and Anakapalli districts took the centre stage during the ZP meeting.

The MPTC member from Ananthagiri complained that the Education Department lacked supervision on teachers and many of them skipping classes. Pedabayalu MPTC member said that instead of taking classes regularly, teachers in the mandal are mostly busy in political and union activities, ignoring the students. This was echoed by Butchayyapeta MPTC member who asked the authorities to initiate action.

The MPTC member from Golugonda complained about poor sanitation in social welfare hostels. Elected representative from Koyyuru spoke about lack of basic facilities in Ekalavya Schools in the mandal. He said that Mahila Degree College in the mandal with about 480 girl students is in dire need of security.

BJP MLC P.V.N. Madhav said that the Education Department must ensure RO water plants in the schools are functioning well. He said that as part of Nadu-Nedu, landscaping works should be taken up in the schools.