Ratlam Mid-Day Meal Lapse: Students served sev-parmal instead of kheer-puri; 5 issued notices
sev-parmal
(puffed rice) instead of the mandated
kheer-puri
under the mid-day meal scheme has gone viral on social media.
The District Panchayat administration has issued show-cause notices to five individuals associated with the school and the meal preparation, directing them to respond within three days.
The incident occurred on June 24, the video however surfaced on Tuesday and reached the district panchayat officials. In thevideo, students can be seen eating only sev and parmal, while a few staff members and villagers stand nearby.
A voice in the background is heard saying, 'Jo ho raha hai, bolte jao, record ho raha hai' (Keep talking, it's all being recorded), suggesting the video was captured by a villager to document the deviation from the prescribed meal.
According to the state government's fixed menu under the mid-day meal scheme, kheer-puri is to be compulsorily served every Tuesday. The distribution of sev-parmal instead is a direct violation of these guidelines.
After receiving the video, Ratlam Zila Panchayat CEO Shringar Shrivastava directed the nodal officer of the mid-day meal branch and Additional CEO Sharma to carry out an immediate inquiry and take necessary action.
'We got the video and information regarding this change in the menu through our internal monitoring system. Notices have been served to five persons responsible for providing mid day meals in that school.
Detailed enquiry has been initiated in the matter,' Shrivastav told TOI.
Based on preliminary findings, notices were issued to school headmistress Vijaya Maida, Assistant Programme Coordinator Vivek Nagar, Block Academic Coordinator Bhupendra Singh Sisodia, and the president and secretary of the Saraswati Self-Help Group, Shanti Bai and Kamla Bai, who are responsible for preparing the meals. All five have been asked to submit their written explanations within three days.
The administration has warned that failure to provide a satisfactory reply will result in disciplinary proceedings under the Madhya Pradesh Civil Services (Classification, Control and Appeal) Rules, 1965.
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