The education department of Bihar has recently sent a show-cause notice to approximately 1,450 headmasters or individuals those who are in charge of government-operated primary and middle schools. They have failed to respond to a feedback system for the mid-day meal scheme. Additionally, in a recent letter to District Education Officers (DEOs) statewide, the department noted that the salaries of 1,434 headmasters/in-charge are withheld until further notice.
1,434 headmasters/in-charge have failed to respond to the Interactive Voice Response System (IVRS). The IVRS, developed by the education department, is designed to monitor the execution of the mid-day meal scheme in 72,000 government schools from November 1, 2023, to January 31, 2024.
Under this system, headmasters or those in charge are asked three questions: whether students are present at school, the number of beneficiaries, and if the food is prepared as per the day’s menu.
As per the letter, the highest number of non-responsive headmasters in charge of primary and middle schools was recorded in Siwan district, with a maximum of 175, followed by Madhubani (112) and Darbhanga (78).
The Bihar Education Minister, Sunil Kumar, wasn’t available for comment on this matter.
(Picture Credit – PNG Wing)
