UP: Case against journo who exposed roti-salt mid-day meal at Mirzapur school

A case has been registered against the journalist who exposed that children at a government primary school in Mirzapur district, Uttar Pradesh were being fed only bread (rotis) and salt as part of mid-day meal.

The case has been registered by the Block Education Officer (BDO) of the area, who accused local journalist Pawan Jaiswal and representative of village head Rajkumar Pal of maligning the image of the state government.

In the video shot by Jaiswal, students at Siyur primary school in Hinuata village (Jamalpur) were seen eating only rotis and salt as part of their mid-day meal.

According to the website of the Uttar Pradesh Mid Day Meal Authority, students at government schools are supposed to get an elaborate menu including pulses, rice, rotis and vegetables as part of mid-day meals. In fact, fruits and milk are also required to be served on some days.

In the FIR, the administration mentioned that on the day the video was shot, only rotis were cooked for the school students. The district administration accused the journalist and village head's representative of cheating and criminal conspiracy.

The case against the journalist for shooting the video has been registered despite the fact that the state government had earlier ordered an inquiry into the incident.

After being intimidated about the incident, even the district authorities had called it a "serious lapse" and order an inquiry into the incident. A teacher had also been suspended, according to an earlier report by news agency ANI.

Mirzapur District Magistrate (DM) Anurag Patel blamed the teachers for the mismanagement.

"As per the orders by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath the menu of mid-day meals across the districts is fixed. They are also given fruits and milk on some days. But these incidents happen due to the lapse of teachers and supervisory staff," Patel said.

(With inputs from Suresh Singh)