M.P. children served midday meal on scrap paper on R-Day; second incident in 3 months

The quality and management of midday meals in Madhya Pradesh’s government schools are once again under scrutiny after a video of children being served food on scrap paper in Maihar district on Republic Day surfaced.

The latest incident came less than three months after a similar incident in Sheopur in November last year, in which children of a government primary school were served poori and curry on scrap paper kept on the ground. The incident made nationwide news and triggered backlash against the State government.

In Maihar, the students of a government middle school, run on the premises of a high school in Bhatgawan village, were served halwa-poori on scrap paper and torn pages from books and notebooks. A viral video from the school showed children sitting on jute mats with food on the paper placed on the ground in front of them.

The video has once again drawn severe criticism against the State authorities with the Opposition Congress criticising the ruling BJP and accusing it of insensitivity towards children.

Picture of contrast

M.P. Congress president Jitu Patwari shared a video of Chief Minister Mohan Yadav eating a meal at an event along with the video from Maihar school.

“The government is devouring rabri and malai, sacrificing children’s plates to the altar of corruption,” he wrote in a post on X.

“How long will innocent children in Madhya Pradesh continue to endure shame and humiliation due to the government’s negligence? The Mohan Yadav government and its administration have become completely devoid of any sensitivity towards the innocents!” the State Congress said in another post.

Maihar Collector Rani Batad told The Hindu that she has recommended the suspension of the principal-incharge, Sunil Kumar Tripathi, to the Divisional Commissioner of Rewa, based on an inquiry report from the District Project Coordinator (DPC) for the midday meal scheme, Vishnu Tripathi.

Fixing responsibility

“The negligence was found on the part of the principal as per the DPC’s report. One month salary of the local Block Resource Centre in-charge has been deducted and notices have been issued to the DPC, the midday meal in-charge at the zilla panchayat and the self-help group responsible for providing food at the school,” Ms. Batad said. She added that the local Sub-Divisional Magistrate has also been directed to probe the matter and submit a detailed report.

She, however, said that plates were available at the school and the incident was not due to a lack of resources.