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28 Jan 2026·Source: The Hindu
3 min
Social IssuesPolity & GovernanceNEWS

MP Children Served Midday Meal on Scrap Paper Again

MP children served midday meal on scrap paper for second time in 3 months.

MP Children Served Midday Meal on Scrap Paper Again

Photo by Vivekarasan M

The quality and management of midday meals in Madhya Pradesh’s government schools are once again under scrutiny after a video of children being served food on scrap paper in Maihar district on Republic Day surfaced. The latest incident came less than three months after a similar incident in Sheopur in November last year.

In Maihar, the students of a government middle school were served halwa-poori on scrap paper and torn pages from books and notebooks. Maihar Collector Rani Batad told The Hindu that she has recommended the suspension of the principal-in-charge, Sunil Kumar Tripathi, to the Divisional Commissioner of Rewa, based on an inquiry report from the District Project Coordinator (DPC) for the midday meal scheme, Vishnu Tripathi.

Key Facts

1.

MP children served midday meal on scrap paper

2.

Incident occurred in Maihar district on Republic Day

3.

Similar incident occurred in Sheopur in November

4.

Principal-in-charge recommended for suspension

UPSC Exam Angles

1.

GS Paper II: Social Justice, Government Policies and Interventions

2.

Links to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) and SDG 4 (Quality Education)

3.

Potential for questions on the role of civil society and community participation in ensuring effective implementation of social welfare schemes

Visual Insights

Mid-Day Meal Scheme Violations in Madhya Pradesh

Map showing the districts in Madhya Pradesh where midday meal irregularities have been reported recently. The incidents highlight challenges in the implementation and monitoring of the PM POSHAN scheme.

Loading interactive map...

📍Maihar📍Sheopur
More Information

Background

The Mid-Day Meal Scheme, now known as PM POSHAN (Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Nirman), has roots tracing back to pre-independence India. Initial efforts were localized and often philanthropic, aiming to address child hunger and improve school attendance. Tamil Nadu was a pioneer, introducing a comprehensive school meal program in the 1960s.

The central government formally launched the National Programme of Nutritional Support to Primary Education (NP-NSPE) in 1995, covering primary schools nationwide. This marked a significant shift towards a centrally sponsored scheme. Over the years, the scheme expanded to include upper primary classes and evolved to incorporate nutritional standards, hygiene guidelines, and community participation.

The Supreme Court's intervention in 2001, directing the provision of cooked meals, further solidified the scheme's importance and scope. The program's evolution reflects a growing understanding of the link between nutrition, education, and national development.

Latest Developments

In recent years, the focus has shifted towards improving the nutritional quality and safety of midday meals. Fortification of meals with essential micronutrients is being explored and implemented in some regions. There's also a growing emphasis on social audits and community monitoring to enhance transparency and accountability.

The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the scheme, leading to the distribution of food security allowance or dry rations to eligible children. The PM POSHAN scheme, launched in 2021, aims to further strengthen the program by extending it to pre-primary classes and promoting 'Poshan Vatikas' (nutrition gardens) in schools. Future developments are likely to focus on leveraging technology for real-time monitoring, supply chain management, and grievance redressal.

The integration of millets and other locally sourced nutritious foods is also gaining traction to promote sustainable agriculture and dietary diversity.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Why is the serving of midday meals on scrap paper a cause for concern?

Serving midday meals on scrap paper raises serious concerns about hygiene, potential contamination of food with harmful substances from the paper, and a disregard for the basic dignity and health of the children. It also highlights potential mismanagement and lack of resources within the Mid-Day Meal Scheme.

2. What are the key facts about the recent midday meal incident in Madhya Pradesh that are important for UPSC Prelims?

For UPSC Prelims, remember that children in Maihar district, Madhya Pradesh, were served midday meals on scrap paper on Republic Day. A similar incident occurred in Sheopur three months prior. The principal-in-charge has been recommended for suspension.

3. What is the Mid-Day Meal Scheme (PM POSHAN) and what is its historical background?

The Mid-Day Meal Scheme, now known as PM POSHAN, aims to improve the nutritional status of school-age children nationwide. Its roots trace back to pre-independence India with Tamil Nadu being a pioneer in implementing a comprehensive school meal program in the 1960s. The central government formally launched the National Programme of Nutritional Support to Primary Education in 1995.

4. Why is this incident in Madhya Pradesh newsworthy?

This incident is newsworthy because it highlights the persistent challenges in ensuring the proper implementation and monitoring of the Mid-Day Meal Scheme. It raises concerns about accountability, hygiene standards, and the overall well-being of children, especially after a similar incident occurred recently.

5. What actions have been taken following the incident in Maihar?

Following the incident in Maihar, the Collector has recommended the suspension of the principal-in-charge based on an inquiry report. The District Project Coordinator (DPC) for the midday meal scheme conducted the inquiry.

6. What reforms are needed to prevent such incidents in the future?

To prevent future incidents, stricter monitoring and accountability mechanisms are needed within the Mid-Day Meal Scheme. This includes regular inspections, social audits, community participation, and ensuring adequate funding and resources for schools to maintain hygiene standards and provide nutritious meals.

7. How does this incident impact common citizens?

This incident erodes public trust in government programs and raises concerns about the well-being of vulnerable children. It also highlights the need for greater transparency and accountability in the implementation of social welfare schemes.

8. What is the UPSC relevance of the Mid-Day Meal Scheme?

While the provided text doesn't explicitly state the UPSC relevance, the Mid-Day Meal Scheme is generally relevant to topics like social justice, poverty alleviation, child development, and governance. Questions related to the scheme's implementation, challenges, and impact can be asked in both Prelims and Mains exams.

9. What are the recent developments related to the Mid-Day Meal Scheme (PM POSHAN)?

Recent developments include a focus on improving the nutritional quality and safety of midday meals, exploring and implementing fortification of meals with essential micronutrients, and emphasizing social audits and community monitoring. The COVID-19 pandemic also led to the distribution of food rations or cash transfers to ensure continued nutritional support.

10. What are some common misconceptions about the Mid-Day Meal Scheme?

A common misconception is that the Mid-Day Meal Scheme solely focuses on providing food. In reality, it also aims to improve school enrollment, attendance, and social equity by providing meals to children regardless of their caste, religion, or social background.

Practice Questions (MCQs)

1. Consider the following statements regarding the Mid-Day Meal Scheme (now PM POSHAN): 1. The scheme was initially launched as a centrally sponsored scheme covering only primary schools. 2. The Supreme Court mandated the provision of cooked meals under the scheme in 2001. 3. The PM POSHAN scheme extends the program to pre-primary classes and promotes 'Poshan Vatikas'. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  • A.1 and 2 only
  • B.2 and 3 only
  • C.1 and 3 only
  • D.1, 2 and 3
Show Answer

Answer: D

All three statements are correct. Statement 1 is correct as the scheme started as a centrally sponsored scheme for primary schools. Statement 2 is correct as the Supreme Court's intervention in 2001 mandated cooked meals. Statement 3 is correct as PM POSHAN extends to pre-primary and promotes 'Poshan Vatikas'.

2. Which of the following statements is NOT correct regarding the National Food Security Act, 2013?

  • A.It provides for food security allowance to beneficiaries in case of non-supply of entitled foodgrains.
  • B.It legally entitles up to 75% of the rural population and up to 50% of the urban population to receive subsidized foodgrains.
  • C.The Act covers only wheat and rice at subsidized prices.
  • D.It includes provisions for nutritional support to pregnant women and lactating mothers.
Show Answer

Answer: C

Option C is NOT correct. The National Food Security Act, 2013 covers wheat, rice, and coarse grains (millets) at subsidized prices. The other options are correct as they accurately reflect provisions of the Act, including food security allowance, coverage of rural and urban populations, and nutritional support for pregnant women and lactating mothers.

3. Assertion (A): The Mid-Day Meal Scheme aims to improve the nutritional status of school-going children. Reason (R): Malnutrition can significantly impact cognitive development and educational outcomes. In the context of the above statements, which of the following is correct?

  • A.Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
  • B.Both A and R are true, but R is NOT the correct explanation of A.
  • C.A is true, but R is false.
  • D.A is false, but R is true.
Show Answer

Answer: A

Both the assertion and the reason are true, and the reason correctly explains the assertion. The Mid-Day Meal Scheme directly addresses malnutrition to improve children's nutritional status, which in turn positively impacts their cognitive development and educational outcomes. Malnutrition is a well-documented impediment to learning and overall development.

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