26 trucks procured under Mid-Day Meal scheme

KOHIMA, JUNE 27 : Though there is no provision under the Mid-Day Meal scheme for purchase of any vehicles, with the initiative of the Minister of School Education & SCERT, Yitachu, twenty-six tata mobiles were flagged off today at the Secretariat Plaza for transportation of food-grains from SDEO office to the respective schools.

Noting the performance of the state to effectively and properly implement the MDM scheme owing to some hurdles and bottlenecks, the Minister has come up with the noble idea and in consultation with the officials, for purchasing of vehicles.

It is informed that MDM vehicles were purchased from the transportation cost funded by the Ministry, and that vehicle maintenance and the drivers’ salaries will be incurred from the same.
Giving a brief remark on the launching of MDM vehicles, FP Solo, Commissioner & Secretary, School Education said, though MDM is a very popular programme which has attracted lots of students in schools improving the enrolment in many states, the scenario is slightly different in Nagaland.

With the launching of vehicles, he said the department will be taking lots of measures to monitor and manage towards the implementation of the scheme, and will revive the management structure at the state, district and block levels and even in the schools management committee, which has not been very effective as seen in the past.

Solo clarified that some certain factors standing in the way on the implementation of MDM are beyond the control of the department, and referring to the CAG report which has attracted a lot of attention, criticisms and complaints, he said the department has furnished the clarification, and will be explaining the position to the members of Public Accounts Committee.

In his address, Yitachu said, it has been a very difficult proposition to launch the vehicle programme under Mid-Day Meal with opinions and suggestion from various quarters from the departmental officials, general public, students’ leaders, organisations, elected members and VEC members to do away with the MDM scheme.

Therefore, with the launching of the vehicle programme, the Minister said ‘the idea may be good, but it does not run the system and give result, it is the men and women on the ground who will give results to the ideas that have been born’.

He asserted that the success of the programme solely lies in the hands of the officers at the district level, and sub-divisional level and that the success story of any scheme should come out from the most difficult and the lowest locality.

Remarking on the many pending cases in the court, the Minister said ‘let us resolve whatever difficulties and discrepancies’ instead of handing to the court for indefinite period, wasting service length and in the process one is left with no more years.

‘Let us not waste our years at the initial period, save as much many years in the initial period of your entry into the service, then you will have longer years to perform at the higher status’ the Minister added. He also expressed hope that the officials concerned will immediately come out to serve the people for which they all are appointed for.

While informing that the government is in the process of expanding more SDEOs, Yitachu has requested the existing SDEOs to show their able leadership, and prove that inspite of the size and area being given to them, and they could manage it.

Stating that the state has very poor image with its performance not upto the mark, the Minister called upon the officials to put themselves worthy of position, so that others also acknowledge them and that ‘we are satisfied of the assignments that we are assigned to’.

He has also asked the drivers to be sincere, honest and dedicated in their services, and be available at all times, stating that they have a big responsibility on them. Pointing out the bad road conditions in the state, the Minister said it should be the top priority of the drivers to maintain and keep the vehicle in good conditions.

He also strongly asserted that the vehicles should not be misused in any way, which should be used only for transportation of food grains, text books and uniforms to the schools and inspection of the overall functioning of the schools by the concerned official.

He cautioned that it will not hesitate to take disciplinary action against any defaulter, and the job of the driver will be terminated at any time, if anyone is found misusing the vehicle for their personal work. He is optimistic that launching of the vehicles will improved the overall supervision and functioning of the government schools in the state.

Twenty-six tata mobiles are launched for SDEOs for all the districts of the state, wherein drivers have been appointed on a fixed pay. The dedicatory prayer was offered by Rev Moa Longchari, Senior Pastor, Baptist Mission Church, Kohima.

Some of the important terms and conditions for using vehicle
• The vehicle shall be used exclusively for transportation of text books, uniforms, inspections and MDM food grains and for work related to the scheme only.
• The JEO/SIS incharge of MDM is to accompany the driver at all times.
• Concerned staff and officers are directed to not permit the utilization of the vehicle to any office, organisation or the public for any purpose.
• All movement shall be recorded properly by the concerned officers.
• The vehicle must be parked in the SDEO office compound after completion of work, provided it is secure.
• In the event of loss of the vehicle, existing government rules shall apply, where concerned officers are to recover the amount for the vehicle.
• The driver concerned shall be fully held responsible for any damage caused to the vehicle due to negligence.
• Any driver found to be negligent in duty is to be terminated from his service without any notice/warning issued.
• Use of intoxicants in any form by the driver will not be tolerated and will be dismissed from service at the first instance.