The college authorities have expressed issues concerning the state authorities’s resolution to incorporate “ghee ka halwa” in mid-day meals each Wednesday for January. Whereas the thought goals so as to add a nutritious and festive contact to the menu, faculty heads and lecturers are grappling with the monetary pressure and logistical challenges it has created.
Authorities faculty college students partaking of mid-day meal in Ludhiana on Wednesday. (Manish/Hindustan Occasions)
In accordance with the training division’s January menu, faculties should put together and serve halwa made with desi ghee. Nonetheless, this particular addition has come with out further funding to cowl its prices. College workers are struggling to handle the bills throughout the present mid-day meal funds, which was revised in November final 12 months. The colleges served “ghee ka halwa” for the second time on January 15, following their reopening after the winter break.
Monetary challenges and well being issues
Earlier than the November revision, the cooking price per little one was ₹5.45 for major college students and ₹8.17 for higher major college students. The up to date prices of ₹6.19 and ₹9.29 per little one are nonetheless proving inadequate to handle the added expense of ghee halwa.
“The primary schools are the worst affected,” mentioned Davinder Singh Sidhu, district vice-president of the Democratic Lecturers’ Entrance (DTF). “Students often drink water immediately after eating halwa, increasing the risk of them falling sick. Additionally, preparing halwa for 50-60 students requires at least 1 kg of ghee, and no additional funds have been allocated for this.”
Lecturers bear the brunt
Lecturers and workers have been compelled to shoulder the monetary burden. “Schools don’t have large cauldrons to prepare such dishes in bulk. The small ones we have are meant for tempering spices,” defined Dharamjeet Singh Dhillon, state finance secretary of the Lecturer Cadre Union. “In some cases, teachers are buying ghee out of their own pockets to meet the requirement. This is unfair and unsustainable.”
Grain shortages add to woes
Many faculties are additionally grappling with a extreme scarcity of important meals grains like rice and wheat. “Most schools are already low on supplies, which has made the situation even worse,” Dhillon added.
District training officer (elementary) Ravinder Kaur acknowledged the difficulties. “The ghee halwa is only for January, but no information has been provided about compensating schools for the ghee purchase,” she mentioned. On the delayed grain provides, she famous, “The issue lies with the suppliers, but we have asked them to resolve it within two days.”
For now, the “sweet treat” has left faculty workers with a bitter aftertaste, as they navigate monetary challenges to make sure college students are fed and wholesome.