Patna: The Bihar government has announced that it will discontinue the services of outsourced employees working under the state’s midday meal scheme from March, citing budgetary constraints.
In an official directive, the state’s education department confirmed that employees hired through outsourcing agencies would no longer be engaged after the deadline. The order, issued by Dr. Satish Chandra Jha, director of the midday meal scheme, instructs district programme officers to ensure compliance.
Jha stated that the decision was taken at the directorate level due to a lack of funds. He warned that any continuation of outsourced employment beyond the specified date without prior approval from a competent authority would be the sole responsibility of the concerned officials.
“If the service of any official or employee is deemed essential, further action will be taken only with the necessary authorisation,” Jha added.
The midday meal scheme is a crucial initiative in Bihar, providing free meals to millions of government schoolchildren to combat malnutrition and improve attendance. The move to cut outsourced staff raises concerns over potential disruptions to the programme, which has been a vital support system for children from low-income families.
The government has yet to clarify how it plans to manage meal distribution after the removal of outsourced workers. Observers say that without adequate staffing, the scheme’s effectiveness could be compromised, potentially affecting thousands of schools across the state.
