His brother would not miss classes even on Sundays 

Revised Mid Day Meal Scheme

     My brother tells me he would attend classes even on Sundays, says Shivraj Singh, a class VIII student of government higher secondary school Mengra in Berasia tehsil of Bhopal district. His younger brother studies in class IV in government primary school Khejda Mishra – a village of around 700 population in Berasia tehsil. Shivraj Singh's school is hardly two km. from Khejda Mishra.

     What Shivraj Singh’s younger brother says is in fact, an aspiration of an ordinary rural child whose family faces livelihood problems. Unlike Shivraj Singh many rural children have to discontinue  their studies for supporting their poor families earn livelihood. Poverty breaks the learning process. A common phenomenon in rural India . Small beginnings could revolutionize learning mechanisms in rural pockets. Khejda Mishra is one of the poor villages where revised mid-day meal scheme was launched on experimental basis form January 15 following announcement by the Chief Minister Sushri Uma Bharti.

     The children in selected villages got rid of regular intake of dalia for which they had started showing apathy. Delicious cooked dal, rice, vegetable curry and Roti come to rural primary children as an unbelievable delight. Interaction with parents, teachers, village level functionaries underlines their appreciation and enthusiasm about new government’s initiative.

     The Khejda Mishra primary school has 180 children. Twenty percent of them were irregular and not attentive in classes. Dalia hardly motivated them to be particular in classes. Villagers informed the news of getting cooked delicious meals spread fast. Children of surrounding schools started questioning their teachers when they would have cooked meals like Khejda Mishra, informs Himmat Singh Meena who heads Parent Teacher Association.

     “I feel joy and satisfaction to see children having the meals cooked by me, says Lalita Bai who has been engaged by Jammu Surkhurd Gram Panchayat under which falls Khejda Mishra village. Lalita Bai’s son Kallu who is class IV student in the same school is also delighted to see her mother cooking food for his classmates. Though, a joyous enterprise, Ummeti Bai another woman of the village engaged in cooking regrets low wage and desires a little raise.

     Queries on the sustainability of the revised scheme and management of financial resources to continue it were enthusiastically responded by the parents. Mannulal whose son Dhuraj Singh studies in class IV says he would always be ready to extend all possible help and motivate others to ensure that the scheme continues. Sabbo Bai Sarpancha of the Gram Panchayat informed some farmers have agreed to cultivate vegetables in their fields so that supply of vegetables remains smooth.  "I taste the food before it is served to children and give instructions if necessary to both the cooks, she says. 

     Devendra Shrivastava, Secretary of Gram Panchayat Jammu Sarkhurd finds the quantity of food inadequate and suggests an increase from 100 grams to at least 200 grams. Further he says that wheat should directly be supplied to and managed by the Parent Teacher Association whose active support could enable us further enrich the menu. He informed the local MLA, Bhaktpal Singh promised that the construction of new school building would start soon.

     Khejda Mishra village has evoked a sharp response from surrounding villages. Villagers keep coming to see for themselves how cooking goes on. Rakesh Kumar Meena, a student of VIII class in Mengra Higher Secondary School whose younger brother Misal is in class IV in the Khejda Mishra school could not believe that the cooked delicious meals would be for all primary school children . My classmates report that dalia is still being served in many schools, he says.

     Villagers have now greater realization about the value of compulsory education of their children says Patwari, Kanhailal Sahu. He wants the revised scheme to be wholly a government sponsored initiative.

     Deevan Singh, father of Sushri Arti Singh, who is in class I, reveals with hesitation his yearning to see his daughter become a doctor. He says if food related worries thin out, we people could also nourish a dream. We also want our children to be able to serve the nation, he says with pride and confidence.

     Persons like Lakhanlal are extending a voluntary help in cooking. Lakhanlal says that poor parents' worries would fade out but other problems of villages like drinking water availability must also be resolved. The government has made a beginning and now it is our responsibility to ensure that students continue their studies. Minor problems could be overcome gradually once the scheme rolls on, he adds.

     J.S. Meena, one of the four-member teaching staff in the school is hopeful of over 80 percent result. "The students whom he could not teach properly as they were irregular in classes. Now, the students habitual of missing the periods are seen in the classes. After all why should they miss their improved meals at the cost of learning.? Some boys came to school even without bags, informs Gandhrwa Singh Meena who teaches class I and II. Even without bags they could learn he further adds.

     "Hundred percent attendance normally forces us to re-dedicate ourselves to the task of teaching, says another teacher Prakash Mishra who is heading the teaching staff at Khejda Mishra. All Panchayat functionaries have been motivated to associate themselves in implementing mechanism, informs Pavan Sharma Chief Executive Officer Zila Panchayat Bhopal.

     During a series of dialogues, parents, teachers apprehended the smooth running of the  revised scheme. Pankaj Rag state coordinator of the Revised Mid-Day Meal Scheme said the involvement of self-help groups would reduce economic cost of cooking on one hand and generate alternative employment on the other hand.

     What Sabbo Bai and parents like Deevan Singh reveal spontaneously mirrors the perception of rural parents and their expectations. “We must strive to live up to their expectations and would ensure that this ambitious project sustains smoothly and is closely linked to employment     generation    at micro level, promises         Minister for Rural Development Narendra Singh Tomar.

Awanish Somkuwar