Jind schools asked to grow vegetables for midday meal scheme

Jind: The Haryana elementary education department has issued an order to all district elementary education officers (DEEOs) to grow seasonal vegetables in the school premises for the midday meal scheme. The Jind DEEO has asked block education officers to ensure compliance. He told them to grow seasonal vegetables with the help of cooks-cum-helpers and maintain kitchen garden.

The school in-charge will be responsible for delay or negligence, he added.

The department has started the scheme to address the nutrition deficiency in the school-going children of the state.

Rajkiya Prathmik Shikshak Sangh’s Jind unit chief Rupender Kaushik said, “The scheme doesn’t seem viable as teachers are already involved in various tasks, including Saksham scheme, booth-level officers (BLO) duty, population enumeration, survey of age groups and poll duties. Also, most schools have shortage of space, some do not have access to enough running water. About 50% schools don’t have watchmen and peons to look after the kitchen gardens.”

He said even the saplings were not safe in schools. “Who will protect the crops round the clock?” Kaushik said. He said department should sort out the issues faced by schools before asking them to implement the order.

Naresh Kumar, midday meal in-charge of Jind, said, there were 743 schools with classes I to VIII in the district. He said, “According to the direction of the senior officials, we have asked all school heads to maintain kitchen gardens. The schools in towns have less space, but there is no such problem in schools from rural areas,” he said.