CHENNAI: The school education department has announced departmental disciplinary action against officials from Cuddalore for asking headmasters to spend out of their pockets to maintain the kitchen and storage and ensure drinking water facilities ahead of extension of the breakfast scheme on Sept 17.In a circular, school education secretary J Innocent Divya said that the personnel responsible for the instructions had acted in a “negligent manner” and that action had been ordered on the directions of school education minister Rajmohan.In a circular, dated Sept 9, Cuddalore chief education officer (CEO) had asked authorities in Cuddalore/Virudhachalam to ensure that school headmasters use their “own funds” to rectify deficiencies relating to kitchen, electrical lighting and drinking water and storage-room facilities, and provide plates and tumblers to the students. The official had also asked district education officers to take geo-tagged photographs of the name boards of the scheme and report to the CEO’s office.The circular drew heavy flak with former school education minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi and PMK president Anbumani Ramadoss hitting out at the TVK govt for putting financial burden on school staff.“This govt should immediately stop imposing a financial burden on teachers and also abandon this mindset of looking at them with suspicion,” Anbil Mahesh posted on X.Anbumani Ramadoss said, “I urge that the govt itself bear the expenses for the name boards, plates, tumblers and other facilities required for the Morning Breakfast Scheme.”
