Schooling a burden for students at Giriyapura

CHITRADURGA: Students of the Government Higher Primary School at Giriyapura in Hosadurga taluk in the district are literally paying a “heavy” price for education.Apart from studies, the students toil every day, carrying hot mid-day meals cooked for 70 students from D Karpurakatte to Giriyapura and return the empty vessels, braving harsh weather.They have been doing this for the last three years, covering 6 km up and down.Though a unit was set up for cooking mid-day meals at the school, authorities have not found the right opportunity to open the kitchen doors in the three years.Complicating the situation further is the scarcity of cooking material to start a kitchen at Giriyapura.Teacher of the school Priya says, “We have no cooks or cooking material to prepare mid-day meals in the school.So, we depend on a school in the neighbouring village.” “Though we have informed higher authorities, they have not taken any steps to open the cooking unit,” she says.Cooks at D Karpurakatte Chandramma and Susheelamma say, “Despite bad weather, we cook and supply rice and sambar to students of Giriyapura school too .” Students Kavitha, Lakshmidevi and Kiran say, “Carrying meals and returning the empty vessels has become our duty. We are losing valuable time... if this continues, how can we study?.” When contacted, deputy director of public instruction H M Manjunath said, “Two years ago the strength of school was very low, so we merged the school with that of neighbouring village. Now, with the increase in strength, starting a cooking unit here was inevitable. The mid-day meal centre will be opened immediately.” He said the practice of making students carry meals will be stopped.CEO Chitradurga ZP N Jayaram said, “Every school is must have independent kitchens. It is wrong to compel students to carry the meals. Corrective steps will be taken.