Water crisis robs kids of midday meals in Udupi

Due to the acute water scarcity, government schools across the district have been forced to conduct classes in the morning and declare a holiday in the afternoon.

In Karkala alone, more than 100 government schools are facing acute water scarcity.

Without water, the Akshara Dasoha staff were unable to cook midday meals for the children.

Karkala Block Education Officer (BEO) Sashidharan when contacted said that the Udupi Deputy Director of Public Instruction (DDPI) was informed about the water crisis.

On the directions of DDPI, headmasters were asked to conduct classes in the morning and declare a holiday in the afternoon, he added.

“Children had been directed to have lunch in their houses,” Sashidaran said and added that though holiday was declared in the afternoon, teachers were directed to stay back to ensure that the schools are open till evening.

Sources in BEO office in Karkala said the schools were struggling to source even minimum water for toilets in the school. In some schools, teachers were seen borrowing water from neighbouring houses or panchayats to be utilised in toilets. BEO Sashidharan clarified that Akshara Dasoha staff were asked to cook midday meals only if potable water was available in the schools.

As many as 16 schools in and around Brahmavar had not cooked the midday meals due to unavailability of water and had declared holiday to children in the afternoon. Nearly half a dozen schools in Kundapur, including Board highschool, JPUC, Kome and Koravady, have not served mid-day meals to the children, BEO Prakash said.

Education officials expressed helplssness and said midday meals will be provided to children only after the district receives good rains.