Students of Hanaguda Upper Primary School in Jeypore of Koraput district had an unusual menu for their mid-day meal. A banana, instead of an egg, was given to each of them alongside alleged sub-standard rice and watery dal.
Not only the students of the school but those of some other schools in the city also had the same complaint. The change in the menu left the students, parents, and teachers irked.
“As per today’s menu, the students were supposed to get rice and egg curry. But they were given rice, a banana, and potato curry. I don’t know why the egg was withdrawn. Since the central kitchen has taken charge of MDM, we are giving to students what they are supplying,” said the headmistress of Hanaguda Upper Primary School, Sailabala Behera.
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Vice chairperson of the school management committee, Shantilata Bisoi admitted the change in the MDM menu.
When contacted, Jeypore block education officer (BEO) Chandan Nayak said, “Egg is being given to the students. But, they were given an orange each on a Friday in the Kartik month. Today, I came to know that they were given a banana. I have reported it to the higher-ups. If the central kitchen is found guilty, appropriate action will be taken against it.”