Not all is well with the mid-day meal scheme in government primary and upper primary schools across the state. Remember the recent video from a Sitapur primary school of a mid-day meal: that watery liquid masquerading as gravy with a few pieces of potato thrown in, and the burnt chappatis?
The matter came to light when a video showing the mid-day meal being served to students at the school went viral on social media. In response to the video, the basic education department ordered an inquiry. Basic Shiksha Adhikari (BSA) Prabhat Mishra subsequently ordered the suspension of both teachers. Notices have also been issued to the cooks preparing meals at the school, seeking their responses. Last week the education department lodged an FIR and suspended the principal of a government primary school and a cook following complaints of sub-standard mid-day meals being served to students in Sitapur district after a video went viral on social media.
The BSA said action was taken against headmaster Rajesh Kumar and assistant teacher Vinod Kumar of Primary School Kotra in Tadiyawan development block. The block education officer (BEO) of Tadiyawan and the district coordinator for the mid-day meal programme have also been asked to explain alleged lapses in inspecting the school and monitoring the mid-day meal arrangements, officials said. Two teachers, including the headmaster of a primary school in Hardoi district, were suspended on Tuesday after an inquiry confirmed complaints regarding the poor quality of the mid-day meal served to students, said Basic Shiksha Adhikari (BSA) of Hardoi district Prabhat Mishra.
Here too, a viral video brought to light the quality of food being served to school children.
Even before the gravy in that issue could settle, a similar incident has occurred in a Hardoi school this week.
