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Rs 200 away from meals-Sumir Karmakar

The “committee” promised by the Goalpara administration to clear the paltry sum of Rs 200 to fund midday meals in Belpara primary school in the district has not materialised yet, leaving its 40 students in the lurch.

The promise came on June 12, almost a month after the May 13 abduction of the school’s headmaster, Kameshwar Rabha, and another teacher by suspected GNLA militants while they duo were riding back home on a motorbike from census duty.

The fate of the children hangs in balance, as the district administration is yet to find a “solution” and pay Rs 200 to help the school buy salt and oil to start cooking the meals. The security machinery, too, is still in the dark abo-ut the teachers’ whereabouts.

Education minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, asked this evening about his comments on the unofficial suspension of midday meals at the school and related developments, said it was “not” right to stop the scheme. “We will direct the deputy commissioner to resume the scheme forthwith,” he said.

The school’s cook, Nuni Rabha, had told The Telegraph on June 6 that midday meals had to be stopped two weeks after the abduction as she did not have oil and salt in the kitchen to prepare food. “I have rice and dal. But how can I cook without oil and salt?” she had asked.

While the school’s grocery bill has not been paid yet, not a single district administration official has visited the village to take stock of how school’s classes have been affected since the abduction.

Goalpara deputy commissioner Pritom Saikia today repeated himself: “It will take some more time.” When asked about the whereabouts of the two teachers, Saikia said, “Our efforts are on to trace them but we have not succeeded yet.”

Rabha’s son, Pratap, said police had not been able to provide any news about his father.

Jiten Rabha, a villager of Belpara, said over phone today the school management committee had convened a meeting after abduction but could not clear the grocery bill as the money given by DC’s office every month for midday meals had been stopped. “Once the money is released, we can pay the bill and resume food supply. No one from the DC office has visited our village so far,” he said.

Later this evening, state elementary education commissioner L.S. Changsan said she had directed the district elementary education officer to look into the issue and ensure that there was no disruption in the midday meal scheme. “Funds should not be a constraint, at least not Rs 200. There must be something else. But under no circumstances should the scheme be disrupted. The district elementary education officer will look into it,” she said.