UP: Primary school children served salt with rotis in midday meal

District authorities called the incident "a serious lapse", inquiry initiated

Children at a primary school in Hinauta village in Mirzapur were handed chappatis for their lunch as part of the mid-day meal scheme on Thursday. What is shocking is that the children got only salt instead of vegetables or pulses along with milk and fruits, they should have been given!

After being intimated about it, district authorities called it "a serious lapse" and have initiated an inquiry into the incident at Siyur primary school in Hinauta village. A teacher has also been suspended.

Kajal, a student at the school told ANI, "I had salt with chappatis today in my lunch. Sometimes, we are given vegetables with chappatis but for today's meal we just got salt." Several other children at the school also claimed they had not received any milk too during the meal.

The cook at the school, an elderly lady reportedly claimed that she was given just half a kilogram of potatoes to feed all the children in the school."I was provided half a kilogram of potatoes, salt and some spices to cook the meal for all the children in the school. I could cook only a few chappatis and had to serve them with salt," said the cook.

Also Read: Madhya Pradesh: Toilet in Anganwadi used as kitchen to serve midday meal, minister says no problem

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 told ANI.

"We have suspended the teacher responsible and an investigation has been launched in the matter. It is true that today the students got just plain chappatis and are being forced to eat them with salt because of lack of vegetables. This is a serious lapse," he added.

With inputs from ANI

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