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?
Even before the gravy in that issue could settle, a similar incident has occurred in a Hardoi school this week.
Here too, a viral video brought to light the quality of food being served to school children.
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.
The BSA said action was taken against headmaster Rajesh Kumar and assistant teacher Vinod Kumar of Primary School Kotra in Tadiyawan development block. 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.
The inquiry found irregularities in arrangements for providing the mid-day meal and confirmed complaints regarding the food quality, officials said.
It also emerged during the inquiry that Vinod Kumar recorded the video; he allegedly had a prior dispute with the headmaster.
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.
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.
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.
“In a viral video from Sitapur district said to be from July 3, some vegetables dropped in water and burnt chappatis were served to students. The cook, in her statement, confessed that poor quality food was being served to students at a government primary school in Sitapur district,” said BSA Gorakhnath Patel.
After the video surfaced, the administration swung into action, taking action against the school principal, Kalpana Verma, and the cook. Both were suspended and an FIR was lodged against them.
