Mohit Puria
Early Times Report
Jammu, Jan 31: Keeping aside all safety norms for students in primary institutions of school education department, a government primary school was found violating all norms for preparing mid-day meals in a classroom. The said incident was witnessed in Government Primary School, Gumat, located in the heart of Jammu city. While the mid-day meal was being prepared in the classroom, students were also present there which posed a serious threat to their safety. As per the norms set by education department, kitchen-cum-store or inadequate facilities could expose children to food poisoning and other health hazards as well as fire accidents. Kitchen-cum-stores should be separate from classrooms, preferably located at a safe, but accessible distance. Chief Education Officer (CEO), Jammu, Tarsem while talking to Early Times said that all norms were kept in mind to ensure the safety of children and separate mid-day meals preparation shed are allotted to primary and upper primary schools.
He said that if any school was found violating norms, they would be punished accordingly. He said that Government Primary School, Gumat, is running from the building of Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) against a monthly rent. Tarsem stated that mid-day meal preparation sheds are issued to Government owned buildings and as a matter of fact that it is a rented accommodation. He admitted that there must be a separate mid-day meal preparation shed as school has more than 1 room. He ensured that if anybody found guilty, he will take action. "I will look into the matter and ascertain why meals are prepared in the same room instead of some other accessible place", he added. It is pertinent to mention here that in government primary schools, majority children are from poor background. Nowadays, people prefer to send their wards to private institutions instead of government schools. |
