Midday meal bungling: Odisha villagers blacken face of school headmistress

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Balasore, Mar 27:

Locals of Banaparia village under Remuna block in Odisha’s Balasore district today thrashed and smeared black ink on the face the headmistress of Banaparia Primary School accusing her of bungling rice meant for serving midday meals to students.

According to reports, the headmistress Sulata Choudhury on her arrival at the school was made to sit on a chair by the locals who later smeared her face with black ink accusing her of embezzling rice meant for serving of midday meals to school children. They villagers including women have beat the headmistress.

“She runs the school on her whims. While midday meals are being cooked and served to only 22 students, on records she is showing meals being served to 60-70 students,” said Gitanjali Dash, a local resident.

Though Choudhury was rescued by the police, either side has not lodged any complaint with the latter.

“I had sent one of my staff to the school after receiving information on the incident. The village committee and women of the village had a brawl with the headmistress of the school. They have reached a compromise among themselves. Neither side has registered a complaint with us. They have submitted a compromise paper to us,” said Dayanidhi Das, IIC, Sadar Police Station Balasore.