No Plates in MP School? Republic Day Meal Served on Torn Pages

Government school students in Madhya Pradesh’s Maihar district were served their Republic Day mid-day meal on torn pages of old notebooks and books, triggering outrage after a video from the incident went viral on social media. The episode, reported from Bhatgawan village, has raised serious questions about accountability and dignity in the implementation of welfare schemes meant for children.

The video shows young students sitting on the ground as food is placed on scraps of paper instead of plates during the special Republic Day meal. The sight has shocked parents and the wider public, particularly because Republic Day is intended to instil values of equality, dignity and respect for the Constitution among children.

Officials said funds for purchasing plates had already been released to the school based on student strength. Despite this, not a single plate was seen during the meal distribution on January 26. The apparent lapse has fuelled allegations of negligence and misuse of resources at the local level.

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Following the circulation of the video, district authorities said they have taken note of the matter and sought a report from education officials. Preliminary inquiries are aimed at determining why basic arrangements were not made despite the availability of funds and whether there was any dereliction of duty by school staff or local administrators.

Parents and social activists have condemned the incident, calling it humiliating for children and a violation of the spirit of the mid-day meal scheme. They have demanded strict action against those responsible and assurances that such incidents will not be repeated.

The episode has once again highlighted gaps in the ground-level implementation of government welfare programmes, especially in rural areas. As the inquiry continues, authorities have said corrective measures will be taken to ensure that students are provided meals in a dignified and hygienic manner in the future.

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