Underprivileged Students Served Mid-Day Meals on Scrap Paper in Madhya Pradesh School: Investigation Launched

The middle school situated in Hullpur village of Vijaypur block in Madhya Pradesh's Sheopur district has revealed a concerning lapse in the government's mid-day meal program.

Social media videos have exposed underprivileged students receiving their meals on scrap paper placed directly on the ground. The footage shows children sitting on the school compound floor without any overhead protection, with their food served on paper pieces.

Following the revelation of this situation, Sheopur District Collector Arpit Verma promptly ordered an investigation by the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM). The inquiry confirmed the incident, resulting in the termination of the self-help group responsible for meal service and a show-cause notice issued to the school principal.

The viral video from Sheopur shows mid-day meals being served on waste newspaper. The mid-day meal program has been renamed to Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Nirman. BJP's 2023 election manifesto promised nutritious meals, though current concerns focus on proper serving methods.

This incident highlights an implementation gap in the Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Nirman (PM Poshan) scheme, which aims to provide nutritious and hygienic meals to children in government and aided schools across the country.

According to government data, as of November 6, Madhya Pradesh provided mid-day meals in 87,567 out of 88,299 schools, leaving 732 schools without meal service that day.

The ruling BJP had committed to improving mid-day meal quality in its 2023 assembly election manifesto. The Departments of Panchayat, Women and Child Development, and School Education had discussed proposals to ensure balanced nutrition for children, including plans for tetra-packed milk alongside nutritious food.