Bhubaneswar, June 16: The state government today assured the All-Utkal Primary Teachers’ Federation that teachers would not be dragged into any controversy on issues related to fund management of the mid-day meal scheme.

The assurance came following apprehensions among primary schoolteachers that the mid-day meal scheme, which has become a subject of controversy following the dal scam, was being burdened on them. The new provisions would only let school headmasters monitor the management of mid-day meal scheme. The teachers’ union has also assured the state’s cooperation in monitoring the functioning of the mid-day meal scheme. The government’s proposal to involve teachers in monitoring the functioning of the mid-day meal scheme was discussed at a meeting of the school and mass education minister Pratap Jena with representatives of the All-Utkal Primary Teachers’ Federation.

Secretary of the department Aparajita Sarangi was present at the meeting. The meeting has decided that the responsibility of cooking meals will remain with self-help groups. At places where self-help groups are not functional, the school management committee will take care of the mid-day meal scheme.

A joint account will be opened in the name of the school headmaster and the head of the local self-help group. All the passbooks will be opened by the end of this month. The headmaster will

look after the quality of food being served in the mid-day meal scheme.

Functioning of the mid-day meal came under scanner after a vigilance inquiry found that poor quality dal was being supplied to schoolchildren under the scheme. After the Opposition raised a hue and cry on this issue, the state government took away the meal’s distribution responsibility from the women and child development department and entrust ed it with the school and mass education department.

School and mass education minister Pratap Jena said: “The purchase of food stuff for the meal will be done locally. Where arhar dal is not available, other nutritious dal will be given to schoolchildren. The entire operation process of the scheme will be examined properly. One senior officer will be asked to look into the entire process at the district level too. The government is also giving a detailed guideline on this issue,” said Jena. Secretary-general of the All-Utkal Primary Teachers’ Federation Rabindranath Jena said: “Teachers will not be responsible for any misappropriation of funds under the scheme. The decision to open a joint account in the name of the school’s headmaster and the self-help group is also a welcome step.”