In Sitapur, schoolkids carry midday meal across Sukli

BHAWANIPATNA: Students of upper primary school of Sitapur in Kalahandi district carry midday meal (MDM) by crossing the waist-deep water of Sukli river. The school has 193 students.
Sitapur in Lanjigarh block is 70 km from the district headquarters town of Bhawanipatna. Around 160 families live in the village.
Due to the overflowing river during the monsoon, the MDM vehicle is forced to stop on the other side of the river as there is no bridge.
During other seasons, the vehicle manages to reach the school. Due to heavy rainfall recently, the meal kept in hot containers were carried by the students up to the school when the river was flowing 2 to 3 feet above the normal level.
The students alleged that it was a routine during the rainy season. But if the water level rises to 4 to 5 feet above the normal level neither students nor the vehicle reach the school.
The driver of the vehicle, Sanjay Singh, said he can't the take the risk of driving through the overflowing river as it may damage the engine.
A memorandum of understanding has been signed by the state government with Manna Trust, which is in charge of the centralized MDM kitchen in Lanjigarh block. The Vedanta Ltd under its CSR programme pays all the expenses of the cooked food.
A CSR official said it is the duty of the trust to take the MDM up to the school. But officials said whenever the vehicle can't reach the school it should engage a person (carrier) to take the food to the institution. The sources said the school has an old woman for the job but she can't carry the hot containers crossing the river.
Lanjigarh block education officer Sanjib Naik said a showcause notice will be served to the headmaster as to why he engaged students to carry the food and accordingly action will be taken. The headmaster could not be contacted. Lanjigarh BDO Pitambar Bhoi said he has discussed with the local MLA for construction of a bridge over the Sukli.