Karnataka: At students’ request, teachers, cooks serve dosa, idli at Raichur govt school

RAICHUR: A headmaster of a government high school in Hireyakumpi in Raichur district, eager to enhance the experience of the students in the institution decided to ask what the students would wish to have for lunch served as part of the midday meal scheme.
A boy whom the headmaster asked, expressed a desire to eat a dosa for lunch. The headmaster, Yallappa Handral, subsequently spoke to the staff in charge of cooking to discuss the possibility, and additional provisions were bought to help prepare the dosas for the 200 students. The children greatly enjoyed the dosa served to them last week.
Yallappa said that preparations were under way to serve idlis to the students this week. “The cooks have already started preparing flour, with utensils they sourced from their neighbours’ homes. Our teachers, Mahantesh, Srinivas, Venkatesh, Shambulinga, Narasanna, and Basavaraj, assisted the cooks in preparing the idlis. The students are so pleased that they are evincing more interest in classes, and the parents too are pleased with the staff,” Yallappa told TOI.
Queried if expenditure on serving dosa and idli to the students was proving prohibitive, Yallappa said it was merely a question of thousands of rupees, and the teachers had only been too willing to make a contribution towards purchase of additional provisions. “The joy we see on the children’s faces when they eat idli and dosa is priceless,” he added.
Roopashri Shivakumar, Bhagya T, Basant, Anjaneya, among other students, said that they seldom get the chance to taste dosa and idli. “We do not have enough money to spend at restaurants. Our teachers are also ensuring we are examined by doctors regularly. If we are found to be underweight, we are advised to change our diet. They are eager to ensure we have a sound mind in a sound body,” the students said.
Nirmala, Kasim Bi, and Basamma, are the staff responsible for preparing the meals for the students. They asked their neighbours to loan mixers and grinders to help prepare the batter, and chutney for the idli, and dosa.
President of the School Development Monitoring Committee, Ramanna Akal expressed appreciation for the efforts being made by the headmaster and the teacher to ensure the students’ satisfaction. “We have a great team of teachers who are trying to understand, and fulfil the needs of the students. They are committed to their jobs, in both mind, and heart. It is the students’ good fortune that they have such teachers,” Akal said.