We are going to ponder upon a very important aspect of #EducationForAll series of #CauseAChatter. Let us first read this fiction story titled ‘Difficult Decision’ before we move ahead.
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It was fine sunny morning, and the time when Kriti was sipping a cup of tea, while reading newspaper. She had finished her morning chores, and Kamu her helper was washing utensils, when suddenly she heard; “I want to , I want to Maa”. Kriti folded newspaper and took her cup to walk to backyard where she saw Vishnu crying and pleading to his mother.
“I will go to school today Maa, I can’t be at home.” said Vishnu in a shivering voice.
“Why not, I will myself drop you there; you won’t miss the school” replied Kamu with a heavy heart.
“That’s good Kamu, your son is so passionate about the studies, and one day he will become a successful man” Kriti said. She gave Vishnu a packet of stationery and story book and patted him.
“Oh! Dear you are having high fever”, Kriti felt the temperature while patting and made him sit; and called out Kamu”. Vishnu is not well and suffering with a high fever”.
“Yes madam I know that, since yesterday he is like that.” When he came back from school he was feeling low and fell asleep without speaking a word. When he woke up he just accompanied me insisting to go to school in this condition, expressed Kamu wiping sweat off her face.
“Did you give him any medicine? And consult the doctor so that he may recover fast” Kriti suggested; “ for now take this medicine and take rest Vishnu.”
After giving him medicine she asked him to sit while his mother completes cleaning work. She searched for remote control and switched on her TV. While she was juggling between the channels, Vishnu who was observing everything softly spoke “Madam Doordarshan is the only channel I wish to see, so I don’t need a remote control too.”
“Maa make it fast I want to go school early, I don’t want to miss”, cried Vishnu to his mother Kamu who was busy completing the chores.
“How on earth you will go to school? You are not well you need rest dear”, Kriti said with a surprise. She thought how her kids put forth silly tantrums to take leave from school and this boy though not well is not ready to miss the studies.
Next day Kamu called up Kriti to inform her that she will not be able to come to work as her son is still not well.
“I told you he needs rest don’t send him to school.” said worried Kriti.
“But Madam how will he take medicine then? Doctor warned that the medicines should not be taken empty stomach.” dishearten Kamu replied.
Kriti didn’t understand her point, later she understood that it is not only the hunger of knowledge that drive these kids to school it is the hunger of stomach. Her eyes were filled with tears when she came across the fact that a kid only eats properly at the mid-day meal provided by school and that’s why could not miss school.
Kriti always used to gift stationary items to Vishnu whenever he accompanied her mother but from now on she thought of changing it. The next time when Vishnu accompanied her mother Kriti made sure to give him a packet of biscuits and fruits.
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When we all speak about the importance of education in life we forget that most of them are not able to quench the very basic needs like two meals a day or maintaining proper hygiene. So, there arises a question as to what should come first, education or meals. This tiff between both mostly ends up curbing the education as hunger overtakes most of the times.
The government of India undertakes a very innovative idea to tackle such situations called the mid-day meal programme. The National Programme of Nutritional Support to Primary Education (NP-NSPE) was launched as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme on 15th August 1995.
Under Mid-Day Meal Scheme every child in every Government and Government aided primary school is served a prepared Mid-Day Meal with a minimum content of 300 calories of energy and 8-12 gram protein per day for a minimum of 200 days.
This program has interested many students to enrol in schools and have benefits of learning and resolving the matter of hunger.
Benefits of this programme:
1. Increased enrolment in schools:
2. Retention and attendance graph has seen a higher pitch
3. Improves the basic nutritional value among the kids.
Such initiatives by the government will definitely make each under privileged children to educate themselves and eventually develop India with motto #EducationForAll and having benefits of Health to Education schemes.
This post is the 5th part of series #EducationForAll in #CauseAChatter of Blogchatter where previously we have shared posts on Why Education is important, Importance of Online Education, Pillars of Right Education, Moral Education. Have a look at these posts and leave your feedback with us in the comment section.
@MeenalSonal
Even i ended up with teary eyes after reading this. Truly its a noble project by GOI and the schools that are involved. Much appreciated. Beautiful post.
ReplyDeleteSuch programmes by government help to the children build their health and education at same time.
DeleteSuch an important subject and as you said the relevance of what and how one impacts the other and especially with a child is such a dilemma in our country with its numbers and poverty. Very well written
ReplyDeleteHealth is surely priority to all and if one can have education and nutrition together that is a perfect solution.
DeleteAgree Mid day meal is the solution for education as well as hunger. Mid Day Meal Scheme has many potential benefits attracting children. It is good for students health.
ReplyDeleteStudents are the future of the nation and making them healthy is utmost priority.
DeleteHonestly speaking This is a great scheme that government had started for bringing more kids to school and it has worked very well.I visited Jim corbett area's one girls school and met the principal she was like yes parents send because kids get free meals.
ReplyDeleteYes results are good and people are benefited at ground level.
DeleteWow I learned something new today and thanks to your post. I was never aware of the National Programme of Nutritional Support to Primary Education. This is such a nice initiative and I agree the perspective of the government and govt-aided schools need to be changed in India. Hopefully this scheme helps and allows more people to go towards the govt schools.
ReplyDeleteThere are more programs too Raksha but this programme at school level help many children.
DeleteThis was such a beautiful read. Yes hunger n education are both needed to survive and Thanks to the mid day meals initiative by the govt many kids can have the benefit of both. Also I always try to give more food items to my house help n their family members too.
ReplyDeleteThats a great deed you do by giving eatables to your house help.
DeleteI loved your post ,as many families can not provide 3 meals a day and by providing a meal per day at school surely encourages the child to go..which helps the Nation to grow.
ReplyDeleteYes such govt schemes plays a vital role in educating children and also providing health related schemes.
DeleteHunger and education are fundamental needs of every child in our country and the government must ensure that no child is ever deprived of these.
ReplyDeleteYes Rahul, these fundamental rights should be reached by most.
DeleteActually mid day meals are controversial too. Sometimes the kids are least interested in studying. They go to school just for the food.
ReplyDeleteIt may be but still we are able to tap on one of the important issue in children.
Deleteboth education and food are important. i feel emotional while reading it. we crib about govt schemes but honestly Govt actually work towards it. glad to understand the another aspect.
ReplyDeleteGreat write up to show case how hunger takes over education.Government of India has taken great initiative of mid day meal concept. I think as a responsible citizen we should also contribute what ever is in our hand.
ReplyDeleteTrue It is a very worthy initiative buddy and is a win win situation. It has been running successfully as well
ReplyDeleteIndeed mid day meal program is best initiative to feed kids well and at the same time keeping on them track on their educational journey. Loved your theme for cause a chatter. Indeed a praiseworthy effort by you.
ReplyDeleteIts good to know that these mid day meals by Government have helped not only increase the enrolment ratio but have also helped the retention graph.
ReplyDeleteWonderful write up ! Government of India has taken great initiative.
ReplyDeleteI am also contributing to this cause via other organizations.
The story is truly heartwrenching. These schemes are great and are very thoughtful, but the people involved directly need to be equally passionate about it.
ReplyDelete-ujjwal mishra
MywordsMywisdom
Kudos to such a great initiative by the government. Your article will help spread the positive word and get more people involved.
ReplyDeleteThis is a valuable support extended by government to support the kids. Mid day meals indeed are a great way of also ensuring education
ReplyDelete?
Mid-day meal is a great scheme by govt. to ensure more kids to come school . Though sometimes it becomes controversial but I like the scheme.
ReplyDeleteThis is such a real (and painful) reality of our times. Indeed deep respect for the government who recognises this issue and has taken such a gigantic step to help every single child - they are feeding them today and ensuring that in their future they are all self reliant enough to take care of themselves and their families.
ReplyDeleteIt is necessary for the government to take steps and support people of the country. This is good initiative and we all should support it.
ReplyDeleteWhat a thoughtful post! Mid day meal is the start of good health, good brain development, positivity and thereby the hunger to educate oneself. Thank you for such a good post. I feel we are writing so little on social initiatives. Thank you for this!
ReplyDeleteYes what wins is a pertinent question in India, hunger or education? But with the mid meal policy both are addressed and so it is a win-win situation. Thanks for writing a thoughtful post.
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful initiative by the government and thanks to you for sharing this blog with us. The ground reality is much different and I am glad our government has taken some steps to make the changes.
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