Agra: Midday meal authorities in Agra are running short of funds as schools have not paid the conversion cost for distribution of midday meals since last six months. Besides, honorarium of cooks has also not been released since last past several months. Some teachers have told TOI that they are spending from their pockets to run the scheme.According to the basic education department records, the conversion cost for midday meal has not been provided to around 2,100 primary and 800 junior high schools operating in the district after March, 2018. Since May, teachers are making rounds to the office of the Basic Shiksha Adhikari (BSA) for funds to provide cooked meal to the students under the central scheme.The state government provides a monthly honorarium of Rs 1,000 to cooks for preparation of midday meals in schools. But majority of the cooks working in primary schools of the district are awaiting their salary since 6 to 9 months. In March, cooks serving in around 1,000 schools got their dues cleared. The remaining continue to wait.District general secretary of the primary teachers association Brajesh Dixit said, “The midday meal scheme is going through a tough time due to lack of funds with schools. The major reason behind the situation is official mismanagement. We have been raising the issue to officials since past numerous months. But officials are not concerned to find a solution in the matter. Teachers are paying from their own pocket to run the scheme.”BSA Anand Prakash Sharma said, “We have not received funds for midday meal scheme since March. Teachers have been asked to make required arrangements at their own level to ensure students regularly get the midday meal. The required amount of funds will be released by higher authorities very soon.”

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