Major irregularities in mid-day meal exposed during DM's surprise inspection in Shivhar, Bihar

According to a report by the Aaj Tak news outlet, shocking facts have come to light regarding the food received by children under the mid-day meal scheme in a government school in Shivhar district, Bihar. Children in government schools in Bihar are provided meals under the mid-day meal, in which eggs are also included in the menu and separate funds come for it. A surprise inspection was conducted by the District Magistrate (DM) at Rajkiya Madhya Vidyalaya located in Katsari Jagir of Shivhar district.

According to Aaj Tak, when DM Pratibha Rani reached this school for a surprise inspection, she took stock of the teaching and food arrangements there. During this, she interacted with the children and inquired about the eggs received in the mid-day meal. When the DM asked the children whether they get eggs or not, the officials were also shocked to hear the children's reply. The children clearly stated that they are not given eggs as per the menu, but biscuits are given instead. After this reply from the children, the officials questioned the school teachers, but the teachers could not give any satisfactory answer in this regard.

According to Aaj Tak, the biggest question that arose in this entire matter was that when the children were not being given eggs at all, how was its account shown in the school papers and records? To check the truth of this matter, the DM called for and checked the school files. During the inspection of the records, the bill for eggs was also found in the school. That means the account of giving eggs was clearly visible on paper, while in reality, the children's statement was completely different. After this discrepancy came to light, the DM immediately took all necessary files and documents into her custody and took them along for investigation.

According to the report, the number of children present in the school was also seen to be less during this inspection. The DM also raised questions on this matter. She suspected that there could be a big difference between the number of children recorded in the school records and the number of children actually present in the school. For this very reason, the school's attendance register has also been seized. However, it has not been clarified yet whether there was any tampering in the attendance. The reality of this matter will come out only after matching the documents and other records. Apart from this, the DM also ordered to pay special attention to cleanliness in the school and made it clear that any kind of negligence in the future of the children, their studies, and food arrangements will not be tolerated at all.

According to Aaj Tak news, DM Pratibha Rani has stated that all necessary files have been seized from the school and a thorough investigation of all these documents will be done. Based on whatever facts emerge in this investigation, a decision for appropriate and strict action will be taken. For the time being, the DM has refused to say anything in more detail on this matter in front of the cameras. Now in the subsequent investigation, it will also be thoroughly probed as to why children were given biscuits instead of eggs, on what basis the bills made in the name of eggs were created, and whether the number of children registered in the school records is correct or not.

The biggest question in this entire episode is that if funds were coming at the government level for the children's food and the children were not getting eggs, then where did that money eventually go? Were eggs actually purchased? If they were purchased, why did they not reach the children? And if no purchase was made at all, who and why recorded a false account of it in the school records? Answers to all these questions can be found only after a deep investigation. For now, it is certain that the answers given by the children to a single question of the DM have raised serious questions on the entire school system. The food received by children studying in government schools is not just a facility, but an extremely important arrangement connected with their health and studies. In such circumstances, if something else is shown on paper and something else comes on the children's plates, then the complete responsibility for it must certainly be fixed.