Damage control: Bihar govt puts out ad asking principals to taste midday meal

The Bihar education department on Thursday issued an advertisement asking all schools to ensure that the midday meal fed to children is first tasted by the school principal and the cook.

“Even when an education department supervisor visits the school during surprise checks, he/she should taste the midday meals,” it said.

Stating that the government had already issued such guidelines to schools before, the advertisment, issued by Amarjit Sinha, reiterated that the schools should ensure quality meals.

It also instructed schools not to store insecticides alongside food ingredients and cattle feed as it could contaminate the food given to children.

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Education Minister PK Sahi have been under intense political pressure from the opposition, demanding their resignation after 22 children died in Chabra after eating the midday meal served in their school.

In a press briefing on Wesnesday Sahi alleged political conspiracy and blamed the Principal of the school and her husband for the tragedy.

Former State cabinet secretary TSR Subramanian said the two ministers should accept moral responsibility and resign. “They should say 22 children have died in my state, I accept moral responsibility and resign.”

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has also ordered a high level inquiry into the incident and announced compensation of Rs 2 lakh each to the families of the deceased.