Plates accompany books and pencils

HYDERABAD: Children of many government schools in Rangareddy district have lately been carrying more than just their slates in their satchels. They also carry a plate and a glass — must-carry paraphernalia for their mid-day meal.
The government’s mandatory midday meal in schools has brought with it a whole corollary of tasks. For instance, classes can resume after lunch only after the floor is swept clean.
“Children drop food on the floor, flies swarm in the room and the classrooms become dirty after a meal,� a teacher of a primary school at the Budvel railway station, Rajendranagar, said.The school is in a three-room community hall. One of the rooms is used as the kitchen, another, a verandah, is where food is served and the third is a classroom-cumdining hall-cum-store room for rice.
The Upper Primary School at Ghansimiyaguda is a little better off. It’s playground serves as the dining area. “We have no choice but to make the children eat in the sun,� a teacher said. With the mid-day meal cost per child pegged at Rs 1.50, teachers say this is the best that can be done.
Children of the primary school at Budvel either run home or into the neighbourhood houses to wash as the two drums of water is used sparingly. The children are not happy with the rice or khichdi served. “The dal is watery, the rice is either burnt or undercooked,� R Veeraiah of class IV said.