Mangaluru: Two schools run by the Vivekananda Vidyavardhaka Sangha, whose members belong to the Sangh Parivar, have agreed to be part of the state government’s Akshara Dasoha mid-day meal scheme after refusing to have anything to do with it under the Siddaramaiah government.
The Sri Rama Vidya Kendra, Kalladka and Sri Devi School, Puncha had refused to be part of Akshara Dasoha after the last government stopped their grants from the Sri Kollur Mookambika Temple that helped them feed their children. Both parents and children of the schools, who held protests, accused the then district in -charge minister, B Ramanath Rai of indulging in “hate politics” and BJP leaders like MP, Shobha Karandlaje began a drive to collect rice and money to help the institutions feed the children.
When the government suggested they take advantage of its Akshara Dasoha scheme to provide mid-day meals to the children, they refused. Now, however, with the change of government and local MLA, the school managements have agreed to be part of the scheme, according to Bantwal MLA, U Rajesh Naik.
This was confirmed by Akshara Dasoha in-charge officer, Rajalakshmi. However the scheme will be extended to only 908 students of the aided (high school ) section of the Kalladka institution, which has 3000 students in all as under the norms, Akshara Dasoha is meant only for aided schools.
“As the primary section of the school is unaided, even if the government provides students food under Akshara Dasoha, the school still has to feed the remaining 2000 students of the unaided primary section through donors. However we are trying our best to do something for these children too," Mr Naik said.
