Poor quality mid-day meal: Lokesh apologises, suspends headmaster

Minister of Human Resource Development Nara Lokesh on Friday responded to a viral video showing children dumping mid-day meal food into a dustbin at a government school, stating that swift action had been taken.

Reacting to the video, the Minister said a three-member committee was immediately constituted to inquire into the issue. Based on the committee’s report, the food agency supplying the meals was replaced and the school headmaster was suspended.

The video, which went viral on social media, was reportedly from the Devanicheruvu Mandal Praja Parishad School in NTR district. Posting on X, Mr. Lokesh said he had been alerted to complaints about poor food quality in a government school and that authorities acted without delay.

He said that along with strengthening monitoring mechanisms, the government was also introducing improved parent feedback through the LEAP app so that such issues could be flagged instantly. “My sincere apologies to the children and parents. Our students deserve good quality care in government schools, and we will ensure they receive it,” he said.