Reformer Nam suggests meal plan as election pledge; observers call it inconsistent with its past policies
The ruling party, having changed its name to Saenuri is now considering the changed policy of offering free breakfast at public schools as one of the party’s campaign pledges in the upcoming April general elections.
Reform-minded members of the party also suggested raising the monthly salary of soldiers as part of the social welfare program.
“Up to 36.9 percent of the teenage students reportedly skip breakfast because of their tight academic timetable or the lack of parental care at home,” said Rep. Nam Kyung-pil, a leading reformer.
“Children’s health should be a matter of top priority over financial or political consideration.”
The program will be initially run with 50 percent state support and apply only to volunteers, but will later expand into a full scale free meal plan for all students, Nam said.
The suggestion, however, faced objections from within the party, especially as the party stood firmly against Seoul City’s free school meal plan throughout last year.
The related conflict with the opposition party over the free meal issue led to an unprecedented plebiscite and the ruling party’s defeat in the vote, followed by the resignation of former Mayor Oh Se-hoon.
Some observers also cited the lack of financial resources and possible backlash from schools.
“The party is already faced with urgent welfare issues ahead of the elections, and the free breakfast plan may not become a matter of top priority,” said a party official.
Nam also suggested increasing the monthly salary of enlisted soldiers from the current 93,800 won ($83.90) to 500,000 won.
“The state will operate its surplus so that soldiers, once discharged from their service, may use it to pay school tuitions or establish their own businesses,” said Nam.
The right-wing party, in efforts to access to voters’ heart ahead of political races, has recently come up with a series of progressive welfare pledges.
By Bae Hyun-jung (tellme@heraldm.com)
새누리 쇄신파, '무상 아침급식' 공약 제안 검토
새누리당(옛 한나라당) 쇄신파 의원들이 당의 4 ㆍ11총선 공약에 '초중고생 무상 아침급식 제공'을 포함하자고 제안하는 방안을 검 토한 것으로 4일 알려졌다.
한 쇄신파 의원은 연합뉴스와의 통화에서 "지난달 29일 회동에서 학생들에게 아 침급식을 제공하는 것을 당의 총선 공약으로 삼아야 한다는 아이디어가 나와서 논의 를 거쳤다"고 밝혔다.
등교준비로 바쁘거나 밥맛이 없다는 이유로 아침을 거르고 등교하는 초중고생들 이 많은 만큼 빵이나 시리얼, 죽, 우유 등 간단한 식사를 제공하자는 것이다.
그러나 회동에서는 '무상 아침급식 제공'을 우려하는 목소리들도 나온 것으로 알려졌다.
한 의원은 "아침급식을 하려면 추가적인 인력이 필요하기 때문에 반대하는 학교 들이 많을 수 있다. 여러 현실적인 어려움 때문에 아침급식이 과연 크게 호응을 받 을 수 있겠느냐"고 부정적인 입장을 표시했다고 한다.
새누리당이 지난해 서울시 무상급식 방침에 강하게 반대했던 만큼 총선에서 표 를 얻기 위해 입장을 바꾼 것처럼 비칠 수도 있다는 지적이다.
회동에서는 이 밖에도 군 사병들의 월급을 인상해 제대 후 창업자금으로 활용케 하는 안 등 다양한 의견들이 제시됐다.
(연합뉴스)
