Jabalpur:
If it is not fit enough for dogs, it surely can't be served to human beings - that's the logic espoused by teachers in Jabalpur district of Madhya Pradesh who are up in arms against the state government's latest order which requires them to taste mid-day meals before they are served to children in schools. So, the protesting teachers have proposed that the free meals be fed to the canines first to ascertain the quality of the food.
The bizarre idea followed the government's directive triggered by the tragic deaths of 23 children in Bihar last week after consuming poisonous free lunch at school.
But the order has sparked outrage with a teachers' union in the state, in a one-page advisory, asking teachers in Jabalpur against acting as "guinea pigs". Contending that the order puts the lives of teachers at risk, the union has proposed its unique solution.
"I have issued letter to all teachers in the district that they should not have mid-day meals before the students... instead, feed it to stray dogs and after seeing its effect on them, they and students should have it," said Narendra Tripathy, President of Rajya Adhyapak Sangh.
But the government has rejected the idea as absurd and impractical, warning of a crackdown on teachers who refuse to comply with the order.
"The teacher will have to check the food before the distribution as ordered by administration... those who do not obey will be punished," said Shailendra Singh, Chief Executive Officer, Jabalpur district panchayat.
While the administration and teachers spar over the new rule, wary students have decided to skip the free meals.
"The vegetable curry served is of low quality and many a times, insects are also found in it," said Radhika, a student.
She is among 80,000 students in Madhya Pradesh for whom mid-day meals are prepared every single day. But the controversy following the state government's latest order has ensured that the issue of sub-standard food remains unaddressed, thus putting the lives of these students at risk.