New Delhi, 9 April 2024: In a major crackdown, the Bihar Education Department has issued show-cause notices to nearly 1,450 headmasters or in-charge of government-run primary and middle schools for failing to respond to a feedback system for the mid-day meal scheme. The department has also withheld the salaries of 1,434 headmasters/in-charge until further orders.
According to a recent letter sent by the department to District Education Officers (DEOs) across the state, the headmasters/in-charge did not respond to the Interactive Voice Response System (IVRS) developed by the department to monitor the implementation of the mid-day meal scheme in 72,000 government schools.
The IVRS system requires the headmasters or those in charge to answer three questions to provide information on the presence of students in school, the number of beneficiaries, and whether the food prepared is as per the menu of the day.
Key Highlights:
- Total headmasters/in-charge issued show-cause notices: 1,450
- Total headmasters/in-charge whose salaries were withheld: 1,434
- The non-compliance period: November 1, 2023 to January 31, 2024
- District with the highest number of non-compliant headmasters: Siwan (175)
- Other districts with high non-compliance: Madhubani (112), Darbhanga (78)
The Bihar Education Department’s strict action underscores the importance it places on the effective implementation of the mid-day meal scheme, which is a crucial component of the state’s efforts to improve student enrollment, attendance, and nutrition levels.
By holding the school authorities accountable for their failure to provide the necessary feedback, the department aims to ensure greater transparency and accountability in the delivery of the mid-day meal program across the state’s government schools.
The Education Minister, Sunil Kumar, was unavailable for comment on this issue. However, the department’s directive to the DEOs indicates the government’s determination to address any lapses in the implementation of the mid-day meal scheme, which is a vital welfare initiative for students from underprivileged backgrounds.
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