Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has launched a scathing attack on Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan after a disturbing video surfaced showing school children eating their mid-day meals on newspapers spread on the floor. The incident has sparked nationwide outrage and raised serious questions about the implementation of the flagship nutrition program in the BJP-ruled state.
The Viral Video That Exposed Ground Reality
The controversy erupted when a video from a school in Madhya Pradesh went viral on social media platforms. The footage clearly shows young students sitting on the floor and consuming their government-provided mid-day meals from newspapers used as makeshift plates. This shocking visual immediately drew condemnation from political leaders and citizens alike, highlighting the gross negligence in the execution of the crucial nutrition scheme.
Rahul Gandhi shared this video on his social media accounts with a strongly worded message targeting the state leadership. The Congress MP didn't mince words while expressing his anger over the incident, stating that the Chief Minister should feel ashamed of this deplorable situation.
Political Reactions and Demands for Accountability
In his social media post, Gandhi emphasized that while the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government spends crores of rupees on advertisements and self-promotion, it has failed to provide basic dignity to school children. The Congress leader demanded immediate action to address this issue and ensure that such incidents never recur in the state.
The mid-day meal scheme is one of the world's largest school nutrition programs, aimed at improving nutritional levels among children while also encouraging poor children to attend school regularly. The scheme provides free lunches to children in primary and upper primary classes in government and government-aided schools.
This incident has brought the implementation of the scheme under scanner in Madhya Pradesh, with opposition parties questioning the state government's commitment to children's welfare and education. The Congress party has been particularly vocal, using this incident to highlight what they call the BJP government's failure in governance.
Broader Implications for Education and Nutrition Schemes
This is not the first time questions have been raised about the mid-day meal scheme's implementation in various states. However, the visual of children eating from newspapers has particularly struck a chord with the public, leading to widespread criticism of the state administration.
Education activists have pointed out that such incidents not only reflect poorly on the implementation of government schemes but also raise health concerns. Eating food from newspapers can expose children to harmful chemicals from printing ink, creating additional health risks alongside the obvious dignity issues.
The Madhya Pradesh government has yet to issue an official response to Rahul Gandhi's allegations. However, this incident is likely to fuel the ongoing political battle between the Congress and BJP in the state, especially with assembly elections approaching in the coming months.
As the controversy gains momentum, all eyes are on the state administration to see what corrective measures they implement to prevent such incidents in the future and ensure proper implementation of the mid-day meal scheme across all schools in Madhya Pradesh.
