Summary:
Nearly 65 lakh school children from primary section and another 39 lakh from upper primary section covered under the midday meal programme. Rajesh Hiwale, spokesperson of state-level association of primary teachers associated with zilla parishad schools, said schools used to find themselves in a fix due to inordinate delay in release of the dues.“The delay used to put schools in financial trouble. They would be in great financial stress as money would not be reimbursed for almost six months,” he said.A school principal, preferring anonymity, said the midday meal scheme has helped the government put a check on drop-out rate of students. The grant towards fuel, vegetables and foodgrain will be deposited into account of the SMC,” he stated, asking beneficiary schools across Maharashtra to complete necessary formalities.For many months, the non payment of midday meal dues was proving to be a headache for several zilla parishad schools, including those from Aurangabad district. The self-help groups and school authorities had to pay for the expenses from their pockets..