Maihar, Madhya Pradesh: A controversy has erupted in Madhya Pradesh’s Maihar district after a video surfaced showing government primary school children being served their mid-day meal not on plates but on torn pages of old notebooks and scrap paper. The incident came to light on Republic Day, drawing widespread attention and criticism.
The video went viral on social media, prompting the opposition Congress party to sharply criticize the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government on Tuesday. Congress raised serious questions about the implementation and management of the mid-day meal scheme in the state.
State Congress President Jitu Patwari condemned the incident, stating it exposed the BJP government’s failure to uphold the dignity and rights of children. He described the episode as a symbol of the breakdown in governance, administration, and human compassion in Madhya Pradesh.
Patwari emphasized that this was not merely an administrative lapse but a serious violation of children’s respect and entitlement. Referring to a similar earlier case in Sheopur district, he remarked that such incidents insult both the children and the education system, undermining the fundamental spirit of the Constitution.
He further accused the government of making false claims over the success of welfare schemes on paper while the ground reality remained starkly different. Citing the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data, Patwari pointed out that nearly 10 lakh children in Madhya Pradesh suffer from malnutrition, including about 1.36 lakh severely malnourished cases.
He also highlighted that official figures from the central government and reports from the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) have confirmed irregularities and scams related to nutrition programs in the state. Despite these revelations, no significant improvements have been observed.
The video clip shows schoolchildren sitting on the floor eating halwa-poori served on torn pages of old notebooks and textbooks, sparking public outrage and political backlash.
In response to the growing criticism, the district administration initiated disciplinary action on Tuesday after completing an investigation. According to an official notification, based on the inquiry report submitted by District Project Coordinator Vishnu Tripathi, the acting headmaster of the government high school, Sunil Kumar Tripathi, has been recommended for suspension, with the proposal sent to the Rewa Commissioner.
Additionally, contractual employee and Block Resource Coordinator (BRC) Pradeep Singh has been penalized with a one-month salary deduction.
The administration’s swift response aims to address the issue and restore public confidence in the mid-day meal program’s delivery and management.
Leave a Comment