Mid Day Meal: A Gruesome Catastrophe

A very few days have gone when BIHAR has witnessed this ignominious incident when several children died after having Mid Day Meal, which was offered to them by their schools. This was not just an incident to which one should keep quiet and watch for the further consequences related to it. Rather, it was a time when every sensible person was forced to think over the cause and the remedy in order to prevent it happen any more any further. This was not a natural calamity. But, it was a result of gross failure of the political and administrative vision and responsibility. It has left several questions behind which needs to be answered and a very serious probe of the entire system.

Almost entire nation has witnessed these whole tragedy through various media. It is really a time to understand and appraise the role of media also. What exactly we have seen? Various television channels covering the news and taking interviews of victims and other possible responsible persons. Making Headlines, Breaking News and concentrating on their T.R.Ps as well. It is really a matter to be assessed that whether these news channels have got only this much of responsibility? To show the story and/or to show an interview or to conduct a debate of politicians(those who are easy for them to find to discuss on any damn issue).

Most of these politicians are always available for these news channels for any issue. Since they don't have to do anything with the seriousness of the issue. They are taking it as an opportunity to come on TV and to promote themselves only. What exactly happens in these debates? Just blaming each other and to prove each other incompetent. Anything else? Ultimately, what happens? The main issue is given ground in the shout and noise of these kind of debates.

It was surprising yet painful to see none has taken a serious approach to find out the root of crisis and a remedy for the same. It was not discussed that ultimately for whose welfare these schemes are being carried out and who are the real beneficiary for all such welfare programs? The Intention and Implication of all such programs are always influenced by various political aspirations. And every time the ultimate victim is the poor third estate. Till, these practices won't be stopped these accidents or calamities are inevitable and will keep on crushing the poor common man.

It is another very sad and disquieting fact that the entire education system of the nation has gone victimized of political opportunism. Till now there is not a common education program applicable uniformly throughout the nation. So far primary or secondary education is concerned there are several education systems in force like C.B.S.E., I.C.S.E and various other Education Boards or Councils of different States. Further, some community based education system is also running and is approved by the government with some obvious reasons.

In totality if we give a Close Watch to the entire education system then it is revealed that most of the government schools do not follow the C.B.S.E. or I.C.S.E. pattern and the quality of education is extremely pathetic in government schools. Even after 66 years of independence the status of government institutes are depicting unfortunate stories only. Even after spending billions in the name of education uncountable schools and colleges are there those who don't have their furnished buildings, still there are many schools at primary and secondary level where there is no facility of essential utility like TOILETS and DRINKING WATER. Schools are running even without a  proper sitting arrangement. Thousands of schools are there running in one or two rooms only. A few are there where it is not a single room even and the classes are conducted under the shadow of a tree.

Under such pathetic and pitiable situation gradually the schools started facing crisis of students and it became difficult for the government to accept the failure of the system and then started the various methods of allurement to attract children towards the schools. Every time such decoy duck has came in existence to put a curtain on the actual crisis. The political parties and the leaders had been great experts of squeezing out opportunities from the adversities. Different politicians have introduced various schemes as per their choices and preferences in order to attract a certain mass. Schemes like, Mid Day Meal, Mukhya Mantri Poshak Yojana, Free Bicycle distribution and even the recent Free Laptop Distribution have been launched with such political aspirations only. Of course while implementing such programs talking big values associated with it had been a unique sideline of all politicians all the times. History is evident that all such schemes are the proven resources of scams and monkey sharing among the politicians and administrative bodies.

Any one can find it now, that even a rickshaw puller is also concerned to offer good education to his children and sends them in a private school for a better education. People are aware now about education. If the quality of education is not improved, it will never solve the crisis. A recent example is from Delhi, where almost 70% students were not able to get admissions in colleges. The main reason for it was the poor level of education offered in government institutes and secondly there were not enough colleges to accommodate all students passing out from various schools.

Now coming back to the issue, the critical incident of CHHAPRA, after two or three days of the incident a news was there that all Headmasters will have to taste the food first before serving it to the children. What is this? Is this not another curtain covering? Is this going to solve the crisis anyway? Is this not a process to escape from the responsibility? Are we making fun? Are we playing a musical chair game? Where everyone is trying to find a safe zone?

It needs to be understood that the main focus has to be given on the quality of education. We have witnessed since long that the politicians have taken granted for attempting all of their mischievous experiments with the education system or in the name of it. Have we ever tried to endorse a stop on it?  Are we aiming seriously for a strengthen pillar of our society?

Like many others do you also believe that this was an accident only and there should be a probe to find the culprit and to sentence him or her a punishment? Or, you consider it a gruesome catastrophe as an inevitable outcome of such blind aspiration of political greediness?

Hope, this time you won't keep quiet. Rush your comments please...

A diet or death?