Rice shortage at Maveli stores threatens to derail Mid-Day Meal programme in schools

Feroke: A severe shortage of rice stocks experienced at Maveli Stores has pushed the mid-day meal programme in schools into a crisis.

 As most schools lack adequate rice supplies, teachers are scrambling to prevent disruptions to the programme.They are now trying to keep the scheme running by sourcing rice from schools that have surplus stock.

Rice for the mid-day meal programme is usually supplied to schools through the Maveli Stores via the AEO office. This month, however, schools have not yet received any rice supplies under the scheme. Despite weeks of follow-up visits by school headteachers to Maveli Stores, there has been no resolution, prolonging the crisis.

As a result, headteachers are now focused on identifying schools with surplus rice stock. In many cases, they have to collect the rice themselves at their own expense, adding to their burden.

In the Feroke sub-district alone ,  there are about 70 government and aided schools that function under the general education department,. The majority of these schools now lack adequate rice stock.

Concerns are mounting that if no immediate steps are taken to replenish supplies, the mid-day meal programme may come to an abrupt halt.