Now, ‘untouchability’ cases hit midday meal

Concerned over such cases, Parliamentary Panel recommends exemplary punishment to teachers and schools perpetuating such acts

Expressing concern over instances of untouchability in the mid-day meal programme, a Parliamentary panel on Thursday recommended "exemplary punishment" against teachers and schools perpetuating such acts.

While the scheme covers Class I to VIII, it suggested that the Classes IX and X should also be included under it to reduce drop-out rate particularly among students coming from SC and ST communities. The Committee on the Welfare of Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes also suggested periodic interactive sessions should be held with the teachers by the school management to make them understand the social fallout of untouchability.

Observing that the practice is more prevalent in the remotest areas of the country, it recommended that these "schools and teachers involved in such deplorable practice of untouchability should be given exemplary punishment".

The committee in particular referred to such cases in Odisha and sought immediate dispatch of special teams to the state to investigate such cases and suggest ways and means to tackle the "malaise" accordingly. The committee's suggestions are significant especially in light of concerns raised about proper implementation of the scheme following the Bihar mid-day meal tragedy.

Noting that 144 districts have been identified for their poor performance and central review missions have been conducted, the committee said these districts still remain underperformed.

Touching on the issue of untouchability, the committee recommended that nodal officers and agencies at the district and block level must make regular visits and conduct surprise checks every month to detect any violations of guidelines and persistence of untouchability, if any, and submit their report to the state government concerned.

"The committee also desires that for dissemination of such information, government should use radio, TV, language newspaper and electronic media so that people can realise the sense of equality and respect to dignity of individuals," it said.

The committee also sought to know the outcome of conferences held and actions taken about a proposal to set up a web-enabled management information system with interactive voice response system for monitoring of the mid-day meal programme.

In this regard, it suggested the development of a web portal wherein students, parents or teachers can lodge their complaint or feedback about quality of food being served.

"Use of social networking site should also be encouraged for the purpose. Patrons should be encouraged to upload the photographs of the meal being stored, cooked, served etc.", it said.