Balangir: The much-hyped central kitchen system for midday meals in schools has proved to be a non-starter here after the agency entrusted with the job failed to provide cooked food to students on the very first day of its implementation on Monday.

As a result, thousands of students in Puintala block and Balangir municipality area had to go without food. Some schools asked the students to return home, while the authorities of some others distributed biscuits among them. Taking note of the mess, the district education officer has sought an explanation from officials of the agency.

Sources said the central kitchen system, which aims to provide cooked food to schools in Puintala block and Balangir municipality, was entrusted to Krishna Krupa Trust of Bileisarda. Balangir MP Kalikesh Narayan Singh Deo recently inaugurated the system. The trust was to begin the central kitchen from Monday. Earlier, self-help groups from respective villages used to maintain the system.

Santoshini Sethi, headmistress of PR High School here, said the students and teachers faced inconvenience as the agency failed to provide the food. "The students had to go without their regular midday meal as the agency failed to do its job. We purchased biscuits from the market and distributed those among the students," she said.

Ramakanta Biswal, a parent, alleged that the agency had taken up the job without being prepared for the scale. "It is unfortunate to see small children go without food in school because of the agency's inability to provide food."

The district education department has sought an explanation from the agency officials. District education officer Subodh Dash admitted to the problem and said: "Such things should not happen. It is not desirable at all. I have issued a show cause notice to the trust management."