‘No funds’: Bihar may stop mid-day meal scheme in govt schools from Nov 1, says report

The mid-day meal scheme in Bihar government primary schools may come to a halt from November 1, Amar Ujala reported. The news comes after the Bihar State Primary Teachers’ Association warned of suspending the mid-day meal scheme in the state over unpaid dues, the report said.

According to the association, schools have not received the budget for the mid-day meal for the last five-six months, the report read. Notably, despite the lack of funds, teachers were providing meals to the students out of their own pockets, it said.

“Now, due to financial problems, it has become difficult for the teachers to run the scheme on their own,” it added. 

Also read 1 in 5 Indian children live below poverty line; at 21%, poverty rate highest among the uneducated: World Bank

Bihar teachers urge govt to provide funds for mid-day meal scheme

The teachers association has given a written notice to the education department and has demanded that all schools pay the outstanding amount within a week and provide funds allocation for the further operation of the scheme, the report said.

In August this year, over a dozen students were hospitalised after allegedly consuming a mid-day meal at a government school in Bihar’s Nalanda district. 

The incident took place at Middle School in Parasi in the Noorsarai police station area, following which the affected students were taken to Biharsharif Sadar Hospital.

Principal Shailendra Kumar Singh said the mid-day meal, comprising soybean rice, was supplied by an NGO as per the prescribed menu. Some students had already eaten when others complained that the food lacked salt.