A first information report (FIR) has been registered against the head teacher and cook of a government school in Uttar Pradesh's Sitapur district after a video showing students being served poor-quality mid-day meals went viral on social media, The Indian Express reported on Thursday.
The video, recorded at a government school in Chhangapur village under the Mahmudabad block, showed students being served excessively watery vegetable curry and burnt rotis. In one instance, a roti fell to the ground before a child picked it up and placed it back on his plate.
According to the report, a complaint filed by the Block Education Officer accused head teacher Kalpana Verma and cook Aneeta of embezzling government-supplied food items and engaging in corrupt practices. Mahmudabad police registered the FIR based on the complaint.
Separately, the district administration suspended Kalpana Verma and terminated Aneeta's services.
Sitapur District Magistrate Rajaganapathy R said the two had failed to provide food and milk in accordance with prescribed norms despite receiving government supplies on time.
The district magistrate also held the Block Education Officer responsible for dereliction of duty. An adverse entry has been made in his service record.
The Mid-Day Meal Scheme, officially known as the National Programme of Nutritional Support to Primary Education, was launched in August 1995 to promote universalisation of primary education while improving children's nutritional status.
The scheme mandates the provision of cooked meals containing a minimum of 450 calories, 8–12 grams of protein and adequate quantities of other essential nutrients. The National Food Security Act, 2013, made the provision of mid-day meals for students up to Class 8 a legal entitlement.