Like blasts, Nitish admin ignored warnings on poor food too?

Bangalore, July 18: What is Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's model of 'good governance'? Ignore crucial warnings? Earlier reports had said that the Bihar authorities had ignored warnings over the July 7 Bodh Gaya blasts which were sounded last year. And now, another report has said that the state government was cautioned in April over the poor quality of the mid-day meals served, based on the feedback of children, parents and community members.

Independent monitoring bodies found that in most schools, the food was served in unhygienic surroundings, the report added. The food is reportedly cooked and kept in the open and dirty places.

A top human resources development ministry rushed to Chhapra on Thursday and held negligence and systematic issues responsible for the tragedy that claimed 27 innocent lives. The top official said the food was cooked on the verandah and the teacher-in-charge who was supposed to taste the food before serving it to the students did not do so.

A Buddhist monk being treated

A Buddhist monk being treated after he was injured in an explosion in Mahabodhi Temple campus at Bodhgaya on Sunday. Nine serial explosions today rocked the internationally renowned temple town of Bodh Gaya.

Security person with a sniffer dog

Security person with a sniffer dog keep vigil at Bodhgaya Jagannath Temple on the occassion of Rath Yatra.

Bomb disposal squad

Bomb disposal squad defusing another cane bomb found near a hotel at Bodhgaya.

A man hold his ill child

A man hold his ill child after being rushed to a hospital as they complained about sickness following the mid-day meal at a village in Chapra district of Bihar.

Activists of AISA and AIPWA

Activists of AISA and AIPWA vandalise the office of mid-day meal in Patna.

Family members of mid-day meal victims

Family members of mid-day meal victims mourn deaths of their siblings in Chapra on Wednesday.

In Jamui

Passengers of Dhanbad-Patna Intercity Express which was attacked by suspected Maoists near Kundhar halt in Jamui district of Bihar.

The ministry had engaged the Jamia Milia Islamia and Patna's A N Sinha Institute of Social Studies to assess the implementation of the mid-day meal scheme in Bihar and have covered many parts of the state said the scenario was poor, both in terms of quality and quantity, the report said. They said several schools did not even offer variety while in many cases, the scheme was discontinued in between due to shortage of foodgrain, fuel and funds.

Bihar drew heavy criticism for failing to utilise the scheme and serving meal only for 130-odd days against the target of 167 days.

Human Resources Development Minister Pallam Raju said the Chhapra case was an "unfortunate aberration" and there was a requirement to improve the monitoring system for the mid-day meal scheme.

OneIndia News