Collapse of mid-day meals will also affect SHGs
It is learnt that thousands of children may have to go without their mid-day meal when schools reopen post the Diwali vacation owing to the tussle between contractors and the Education Department over backlog payments and meal rates.
None of the bills have reportedly been paid since schools resumed this year and those supplying the mid-day meals will be in no position to continue serving cooked food. This is indeed worrisome as it is absolutely necessary to protect the rights of children to food and education.
It is understood that if the issue is not resolved urgently, the scheme will collapse and the contractors will not be in a position to serve in schools post Diwali vacation. It is pertinent to note that those who supply the mid-day meals are women running Self-Help Groups (SHGs).
If the mid-day meal scheme crisis is not resolved and the scheme stops, it is not only the school children who will be affected but also the women of the SHGs.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
Our political leaders must always be humble
Our elected representatives should always act with absolute humility. Those elected should never lose sight that they are servants of the people, elected by the people and paid by the people whom they should be accountable to while respectfully and truthfully serving. Those elected should strictly live up to the wishes and aspirations of the people while also being guided to deliver what the people want.
Unfortunately, we are witnessing those elected acting very arrogantly and carrying out their personal agenda against the wishes of those who elected them. On every issue there must be an ongoing consultation with all stakeholders which is sadly not happening while the political class is ruthlessly bulldozing through its vested and anti-people agenda.
Even the defections by MLAs in betraying the trust and mandate of the people while making a mockery of God is reprehensible. Such leaders need to be shunned and boycotted by citizens.
Aires Rodrigues, Ribandar
Taxi problems only for air travellers?
In the recent days there is much discussion by the Goa government and by citizens about taxi counters, services and charges. From the debate it appears that taxis are used only by air passengers (especially tourists) while this is not entirely correct.
There are more people coming into Goa by trains and buses and after alighting at the stations they are left in the lurch for lack of public transport or are at the mercy of the taxi and auto drivers. There is never a talk about this category of people (local and tourists) who also need travel facilitation to reach their destinations.
In addition, the residents in Goa too require taxi services and at affordable rates. The government should look into the matter.
Sridhar D’Iyer, Caranzalem
Negative side of long festive breaks by bank employees
The Festival period is the time when not only government departments but banks too take advantage of taking a long break from work. An Australian citizen of Goan origin made several trips to some nationalized and State banks in order to close the accounts of his father “ a retired Gazetted officer - who passed away earlier this month in Mumbai.
The grieving son, who is due to fly back to Australia in the next couple of days, has submitted all the required papers with these banks and is expected to return to Goa early next year to ensure his late father’s accounts are closed and the pension is stopped. Several banks are presently functioning with short staff.
While he does not complain about the festive period or long festive breaks, his family faced the inconvenience as he plans to take his widowed mother, also a retired gazetted officer, with him to Australia.
Antonio NP, Parra
Provide mid-day meals to school children
Amid reports that thousands of children may have to go without their mid-day meal in schools post-Diwali vacation owing to the tussle between contractors and education department over payments and rates.
The mid-day meal (MDM) scheme aims to avoid classroom hunger, increase school enrolment, increase school attendance and to improve socialisation among castes.
Apart from pointing out high prevalence of malnutrition, anemia and low immunity among children in many parts of the state. Under Article 24, para 2c of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, to which India is a party, India has committed to yielding “adequate nutritious food” for children.
It is not just a scheme, but a legal entitlement of all school-going children in primary and upper primary classes, through the National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013.
In September 2021, the Mid-Day Meal Scheme was renamed ‘PM POSHAN’ or Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Nirman, extending the hot cooked meals to students studying in pre-primary levels of government and government-aided primary schools, in addition to those already covered under the mid-day scheme.
KG Vilop, Chorao
