2 Tripura teachers carry midday meal supplies on shoulders, earn accolades

Agartala: Two dedicated govt teachers of a remote school in Tripura’s Dhalai district have been walking the extra mile, literally, to ensure their students receive proper nutrition.
Anchan Reang and Sujit Rudra Paul, teachers at Malda Para S B School, were recently captured in a viral social media post walking over 7.5 km on a treacherous muddy road, carrying midday meal supplies on their shoulders from Ganganagar market.
The school, located near the Indo-Bangladesh border, serves a community of poor and marginalized tribal families who rely primarily on forest produce for their livelihood. With limited options for income, the midday meal program has become a significant attraction for the children, encouraging them to attend classes regularly despite the challenges they face.
“At least once a week, Reang and Paul walk over 7.5 km after getting down from vehicles on the main road with the midday meal stuff from Ganganagar market. About 100 students are enrolled in the school and daily attendance is more than 90% because of the care taken by both the teachers,” said Harimohan Reang, a resident of Maldapara.
A district education office official in Dhalai said, “Several schools in the region struggle with accessibility issues. Teachers often remain the sole government representatives in these villages as even panchayat secretaries rarely visit regularly.” The official commended the teachers for their dedication and willingness to endure hardships to keep the schools running.
Bhumika Nanda Reang, a member of ADC, acknowledged the poor condition of the road between Champaraipara and Maldapara during the monsoon season. However, he said the chief minister has included the road in a World Bank-funded project, and work is expected to begin soon.
Reang said since the BJP government came to power and declared Dhalai as an aspirational district in 2018, infrastructure development has been a priority, with a mandate to spend at least 10% of each department’s budget in the district. He added that the challenges faced by the people for the past 52 years cannot be eradicated in just five years.