Odisha school headmaster sells MDM rice, caught; explanation sought

The head master of Government Upper Primary School in Tarasingi under Ganjam’s Sheragad block was allegedly caught red handed while trying to sell rice packets meant for mid-day-meal of students.

The head master, Kamaraju Sethi though denied the allegations of selling the rice packets, he admitted to giving the rice to another person in exchange of something else.

The incident came to fore after the students complained of substandard food being served to them at the school.

A student complained, “The teachers do not give us good meal to eat. Dal and rice are substandard to the core. If we complain, we get an angry stare from the teachers. So, we could not muster courage to complain.”

Later, parents of the students suspected foul play and followed Sethi’s movement and allegedly found him selling the MDM rice outside.

A villager, Chitrasen Sahu said, “The teachers of the school had sold the rice packets. We gathered at the school and asked the head master to bring back the rice he had sold. We demand strict action against the teachers responsible for this.”

A parent, Niranjan Sahu said, “We caught the teachers red handed trying to sell the rice outside. We have placed the rice outside the school gate to show the administration the misdeeds of the teachers.”

Sethi, though admitted to his mistake, said he did not sell the rice for money; instead he gave it to someone in exchange of other materials. “I should not have given the school rice to anybody. It is not right and I accept my mistake,” he said.

Speaking on the matter, Sheragad Block Education Officer (BEO), Pramod Chandra Senapati said, “I visited the school after the incident. I have sought an explanation from the head master. I will take necessary action after receiving the explanation from him.”

(Reported By Manoj Muni, OTV)