HASSAN: "Akshara Dasoha", the midday meal programme of the Government, which was envisaged to increase attendance of students in primary schools and address the issue of dropouts, is embroiled in a controversy, with students' organisations here accusing the authorities concerned of supplying low quality foodgrain for the programme.

Activists of the Students' Federation of India (SFI) and Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI), seized worm-infested toor dal and rice, supplied to various schools across the district and showed that to Deputy Commissioner K.H. Ashwathanarayana Gowda, who in turn directed the authorities concerned to examine the matter.

Agitation threat

Students' organisations have threatened to launch an agitation if the administration failed to look into the matter.

According to sources in Akshara Dasoha wing of the Education Department, 2,508 centres and 41 aided institutions are benefited under the programme. Over 1,75,000 children are being provided with mid-day meals every day.

The centres are being supplied with 2,500 quintals of rice and 750 quintals of toor dal every month apart from oil and salt. Sources said that as the department did not get the supply, the authorities purchased toor dal from local dealers and supplied to schools.

Allegation denied

They said the students' organisations had seized worm-infested dal from Raipura School in Hassan taluk. Their allegation that all other centres were being supplied poor quality foodgrain was not true, sources said.

However, Deputy Director of Food and Civil Supplies, D. Hombale Gowda, convened a meeting of implementing officers on Friday and directed them against accepting large quantity of foodgrain in one consignment.

He also asked the contractors, who bagged tenders to supply foodgrain, to send the sample and supply the variety chosen by implementing authorities. He said authorities should not give room for complaints and take precautions while implementing the programme.

Sources said it had been decided against lifting the load of toor dal, in view of the complaints and ask the supplier to send fresh load. Principal Secretary to Public Grievances, R. Suresh, who visited Hassan on Friday, also directed authorities to respond the grievances of the people in this regard.

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