Tamil Nadu   

Kitchens in suburban government schools leave much to be desired

— Photo: A. Muralitharan

archaic conditions: Cooks and helpers at noon meal kitchens of government schools in the southern suburbs of Chennai have a challenging task. A cook near the firewood stove at a school in a government school recently.

TAMBARAM: There seems to be no improvement in the plight of cooks, helpers and organisers in kitchens of government schools where noon meals are served and in kitchens of Integrated Child Development Scheme centres across the southern suburbs of Chennai.

Despite announcements and efforts by the State government to modernise the kitchens, with measures such as installation of Liquefied Petroleum Cylinders and stoves, many kitchens continue to function out of cramped rooms with firewood stoves. Under such circumstances, the health of the working staff is at risk. .

Staff working in these centres said while LPG stoves had become an integral part of all households, persons like them continued to suffer, working in rooms with poor illumination and ventilation. “We continuously inhale thick fumes,” they said.

Kalpana Balakrishnan, formerly on the World Health Organisation’s Committee for Air Quality Guidelines, said cooking with biomass posed many risks. Traditional stoves combined with poor ventilation resulted in exposure to many products of incomplete combustion.

“Chronic obstructive lung diseases in women are the most well recognised adverse effects although now evidence is emerging for many others including birth outcomes, cataracts and asthma,” Dr. Balakrishnan said.

Kitchens attached to ICDS Centres and those in government schools come under the maintenance of Panchayat Unions, urban local bodies and other departments of the State Government. Office-bearers of associations formed to highlight the plight of these workers said the State Government needed to accord top priority to improving kitchens and the working conditions of the staff.

They could explore the possibility of joining hands with voluntary organisations and private sector houses.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

What do you have on your plate and feet?
“Patti mandram is a platform to display knowledge of literature”
Mechanical match
Sorting out
‘Wider ramifications’
Bypolls to civic body posts
Development of tourist spots discussed
Free house site pattas distributed
Getting learner’s licence now made easy
Engagements
Woman kills children
Ketamine worth Rs. 40 lakh seized
“Pace of work not satisfactory”
Collector’s appeal
Unearthed
Tourism projects in Kolli Hills
Government okays Rs. 1 crore for tourism projects in Kolli Hills
Woman hurt in firing
Bypolls on February 20
Run for health
Control room set up
Post-matric scholarship for minority students
Control room to monitor fair price shops
1,300 works identified for rural job programme
No bird flu in Theni
IGNOU’s regional centre inaugurated in Madurai
Ordnance Factory should notify vacancies: HC
Courtesy call
On-the-spot painting competition
Lexicographers hold key to quality translations
Yoga classes
2 held for ‘land grabbing’
Battling barriers
Rs.52 crore-package to improve basic amenities in Ullagaram Puzhuthivakkam
Tanflora crosses 3 million mark for Valentine’s Day
Kitchens in suburban government schools leave much to be desired
Vivekananda jayanthi celebrated
IOC to construct 11 rural community centres in Thanjavur and Tiruvarur districts
“Do not use electricity during evening hours”
Nagercoil-Coimbatore train service inaugurated
Plea to start bank branch
Assistance distributed
Hospital performs rare surgery
Tamil Nadu to implement national forest policy
Early intervention centre for the mentally retarded
NHAI begins maintenance work on Tiruchi-Dindigul Highway

Copyright © 2008, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu