Principal suicide: Vinod Tawde blamed

Various teachers’ organisations have blamed education minister Vinod Tawde for the suicide of a principal of a school in Amravati after he was suspended on allegations of siphoning off grains meant for students under the mid-day meal scheme.

The organisations have said that the situation could have been averted had Mr Tawde heeded suggestions of handing over the implementation of the scheme to temple trusts like it is prevalent in other states.

Speaking on the suicide of the principal Vijay Nakashe in Semadoh zilla parishad school, J.M. Abhyankar, former state board chairman said that it was an unfortunate incident that could have been averted.

“The state government has been delaying the implementation of a centralised kitchen scheme for the mid-day meals. Currently, schools are supplied with food grains and are expected to cook the same on a regular basis. The principal of the school is responsible for the same and in the case of Nakashe he was held responsible for the shortfall of 30 kg of rice. The ignominy of the suspension and inquiry against him was too harsh and hence he committed suicide,” said Mr Abhyankar.

He added that had the proposal to hand over preparation of mid-day meals to temple trusts and religious institutions on the lines of those in other states been cleared by the government, Nakashe would not have had to take such a drastic step.

“Education minister Vinod Tawde should take responsibility of the death as he delayed the approval of the proposal,” said Mr Abhyankar.

Meanwhile, other teachers’ organisations have said that the work of the mid-day meal scheme was too much of a responsibility on principals. “Principals are responsible for many other activities apart from academics. In such a scenario, they cannot be expected to be alert about everything. The government should limit the duties of principals and teachers to teaching and not involve them in any other duties apart from that,” said Mahadeo Sule, chairman of the Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Teachers Cell. He added that a letter regarding the same was handed over to the chief minister Devendra Fadnavis but nothing has come of it.

Navnath Goud of Shikshak Bharati said, “Primary education in the state is wavering due to the non-academic work being thumped on the teachers. While, on the one hand the state is stressing on improving primary education, on the other hand teachers are being made scapegoats for doing work not related to academics. This needs to stop else there could be a repeat of the incident,” said Mr Goud.