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MP School Serves Midday Meal on Paper, Sparks Outrage
27 Jan
Summary
- Children ate food directly from torn notebook pages.
- The incident occurred on Republic Day at a government school.
- Toxic ink from paper poses serious health risks to students.
Students at a government school in Maihar, Madhya Pradesh, faced a distressing situation on Republic Day, being served food directly on torn pages of old notebooks and books. Viral footage depicted children sitting on the ground, eating puri and halwa from ink-stained paper, sparking widespread condemnation. This incident has ignited critical discussions regarding the integrity and safety of the midday meal scheme.
Health experts have voiced grave concerns, noting that the printing ink contains toxic chemicals that can contaminate food, leading to digestive issues and potentially long-term health problems like cancer. The lack of proper utensils and seating arrangements constitutes a violation of the children's dignity and fundamental rights, underscoring a disturbing level of negligence.
School principal Sunil Kumar Tripathi and Block Resource Centre Coordinator (BRCC) are reportedly responsible for the arrangement, according to District Project Coordinator Vishnu Tripathi. A report has been submitted to the Collector, and swift disciplinary action is anticipated. This mirrors a similar incident in November 2025 at a school in Sheopur district, where meals were also served on paper, resulting in the cancellation of a contract and suspension of the person in charge.
