Daijiworld Media Network - Bantwal (MS)
Bantwal, Nov 4: After the state government stopped the mid-day meal scheme to Sri Rama Vidya Kendra, a school run by RSS leader Kalladka Prabhakar Bhat, the students challenged the government’s decision by growing paddy and vegetables in their school premises.
Over 3500 students under the 'Grama Vikas' programme have been actively participating in agriculture activities by growing paddy and other vegetables on three acres of land in Kalladka.
In August 2017, the Karnataka Muzrai Department, which controls the funds allocated to temples, withdrew the financial grant allotted to the Kollur Mookambika Temple.
The temple, located in Udupi district had granted Rs 2.83 crore to the two schools during the BJP-JD(S) coalition government between 2007 and 2008. The funds were to be allotted till 2016-17 towards midday meals, textbooks and uniforms for students, after which the fund allocation agreement would be renewed.
The state government order, dated July 31 this year, states that the adoption of the two schools—Sri Rama Vidya Kendra and Sri Devi Vidya Kendra—has been cancelled.
Many alleged that the fallout between district-in-charge Minister Ramanath Rai and Kalladka Prabhakar Bhat led to government withdrawing funds.
According to school teacher Jinnappa Elthimar, the school served midday meal to students even before the government started sanctioning funds. The school used to get an average of two quintals of paddy every year which is used for mid-day meal scheme. However, the main objective of cultivating paddy is to make children learn agriculture, he added.
The students under the 'Grama Vikas' programme have harvested 20 quintals of paddy. “Not only we learnt to grow our own food, the fodder can be used for cattle,” says Varun a student.
Meanwhile, Bhat is happy that the students are independent and have bravely faced the challenges. “Their confidence has grown after the achievement. The management has decided to continue paddy cultivation. On the whole it has become a model for all,” he said.