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 government needed to accord 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.

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