The Future of Mid-Day Meal at Falakata Hangs in Balance Now

By Arunangshu Maitra (TNI Falakata)  |  TNI Editing Siliguri

Webdesk, TNI Falakata, 15^th December, 2016: Thousands of school students are going be deprived of the mid-day meal in their respective school due to the after effects of demonetization by the Union Government. A total of 58 schools of Falakata block is having their account at the Central Bank of India’s Jateshwar branch. The teachers alleged that from the month of September the branch has not released a single penny to those schools. Mr. Bimal Ch Barman of Jateshwar BFP Primary school said that due to the stoppage in the release of the money from those 58 school bank accounts, the respective school management has to run the mid-day meal program by borrowing money from people and suppliers. The suppliers have now stopped giving food materials due to the huge amount of borrowed money. On the other hand, the banks have totally stopped giving money after 8th November demonetization. So, there are no options left by the school managements rather stop the program due to lack of money. It is to be noted that maximum students of these school come from BPL category. However, the North Falakata Sub-Inspector of Schools Mr. Rajesh Pal told that press that those schools didn’t give any written complaint about their difficulties. The manager of Central Bank, Jateshwar Branch said that the school accounts didn’t receive any money from September 2016, so the bank cannot release money without receiving any money in those accounts. The officer in charge of Mid-day meal Mr. Biplab Moktan was out of station for official works and Falakata BDO Smt. Smrita Subba has assured that some necessary steps will be taken by the administration soon. Thus, till then the fate of mid-day meal hands in a balance at Falakata.

Photo: Arunangshu Maitra (TNI)