No summer vacation for Bundelkhand teachers in UP

Lucknow, Apr 27 (UNI) Teachers of the government primary schools in the drought-hit Bundelkhand region of Uttar Pradesh would not be able to enjoy their ' summer vacation' as they will have to ensure distribution of mid-day meal for the children even during the annual holidays.

A senior official in the state government said here that all the primary schools in the seven district of Bundelkand will open for just three hours, between 1100 hrs and 1400 hrs where children would get food.

''No academic activity would take place during this period. The children will come have their food and go home,'', a senior government official here said.

Though the students would enjoy the summer holidays, the teachers have been given the responsibility to ensure hygienic food for these children. ''There would not be any summer holidays for the teachers of government schools in seven districts of Bundelkhand this year.

The teachers would be suitably compensated for this job,''official said.

The state-run schools remain closed for almost 40 days during summer all over the state. This summer the schools would close from May 20 and would re-open on July 11.

The mid-day meal is served in school only during week days. But for the last two months the meal is also being served in on public holidays and Sundays in the regiion.

''The decision to keep the school open during the summers was taken to ensure hygienic food for the small children at least once a day. The summers in Bundelkhand is very torturous and with rains failing for last five years the life is a hell,''Rural Development Minister Dadoo Prasad, who hails from Patta region of Bundelkahd, said.

Gram Pradhans and teachers have been asked to ensure mid-day meal to the students during the summers. District Inspectors of School in each of the seven districts have been asked to monitor efficient supply of mid-day meal in schools during summers.

Meanwhile, the teachers have already started protesting this government order. Uttar Pradesh Basic Shikshak Sangh has sent a memorandum asking the state government to relieve teachers from this duty. Teachers have even threatened to take mass leave if their demands were not met.

Sangh officials said teachers wait for one full one year to avail these vacations.

They have suggested that as there are two teachers in every primary school hence one teacher should be allowed to take at least 15-day leave. Secondly, gram pradhan should be made in-charge of the mid-day meal scheme and he should look after the scheme in summer.

However, the rural development minister was not impressed with the arguement. ''The teachers who would go on leave should get ready to face government wrath,'' he said, adding that '' if the teacher is absent during the vacation the government might go ahead in sacking them''.

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