NEWS:
The death toll in
yesterday’s Mid-Day Meal (MDM)) food poisoning, has reached 22 with the death
of 10 more kids in the night. At least 25 kids are still be treated, while 10
of them are said to be critical. The serious schoolchildren have been shifted
to Patna. The woman, who prepared the food and her two children too died. Bihar
CM Nitish Kumar has announced a compensation of Rs 2 lakh each to the families
of the dead children.
MY OPINION:
India has witnessed so many deaths due to malnutrition but here is
something even more alarming: children dying after eating food in school. The
flagship programme "Midday meal scheme", which was started to improve literacy levels amongst the destitute , has turned a
horror for so many families who thought they were guaranteeing a bright
tomorrow for their kids by sending them to school! This has
terrified parents and most of them are not prepared to send their children to school
again. Not only parents, I think this
incident would be dreadful for those innocent kids who go to school everyday to
get enlightened by the power of the alphabet. Now it seems, most of them would
prefer working under scorching sun instead of going into the mouth of death.
Others who would still want to pursue their schooling would stay empty stomach.
Is that how we visualized schooling in India? Is that what Sarva
Shiksha Abhiyaan stood for? I m shocked at the utter carelessness of the authorities. We seem to conveniently ignore the loopholes in our working. Recently, ASER(Annual Survey Education Report) had hailed the performance of
Bihar for having widened the coverage of the Midday meal Scheme from 57.2% to
75%. They also found out that many schools had improved conditions pertaining
to toiletries, availability of drinking water and other facilities. I m sure they are proud of Bihar's performance after this deathly meal!
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| The last meal. So sad! |
But alas, statistics has been deceiving us and so has it happened
this time as well. The forensic report has also confirmed that Monocrotophos (organic
phosphorous) was present in the food which is used in the manufacture of
insecticide. The principal has been accused of criminal negligence and is
absconding for now. It has been reported that the oil used to make the meal was
purchased from the principal's husband's shop. What has happened to our system's morals and
values? We seem to have lost all humanitarian values. It is a shame that we are
unaware of our responsibilities and are unable to admit to our faults. The children,
who have been told that education is the only way to brighten up their "bleak
future", would have no choice now.
Time has come that we change now and for the better. I m sure that
this scheme would be barred as another UPA fiasco and the incident would be
used as a political gimmick by the opposition. But our plan should be restore
the faith of the families who have been demotivated by the terrifying mishap.
The government must, firstly, punish those whose lackadaisical attitude has
taken the lives of many. Secondly, the food ingredients must be taken from
certifies shops and the quality of food must be checked on a periodic basis. A
newspaper also mentioned that these cases of food poisoning were not uncommon
but these heinous cases were never registered. Therefore the need of the hour
is to deploy strict and disciplined inspectors.
I extend my condolences to the families of the deceased for the
loss is irretrievable! I pray to God to give them the strength to bear with this
unbearable sorrow !
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