Incident at Maihar Government School on Republic Day

On Republic Day, children at the Government High School Bhatgawan in Maihar, Satna district, Madhya Pradesh were shockingly served their mid-day meal on torn notebook pages instead of proper plates.

The students, sitting on the ground in cold weather, received puri and halwa directly on ink-stained paper. A viral video and photos of the incident, lasting 13 seconds, sparked widespread outrage across the state.

Health and Safety Concerns

Medical experts warned that printing ink contains toxic chemicals which can mix with hot food. This poses immediate health risks such as digestive issues and long-term dangers like cancer.

The incident raised serious concerns about the mid-day meal programme, emphasizing the dignity and safety of children. Students were forced to eat under unhygienic conditions, highlighting gross negligence by school authorities.

Administrative Accountability

District Project Coordinator (DPC) Vishnu Tripathi confirmed that the school principal, Sunil Kumar Tripathi, was responsible for arranging the meals.

“The preliminary investigation revealed the principal’s role in this arrangement. Such an incident on a national holiday is reprehensible,” Tripathi said.

The Block Resource Centre Coordinator (BRCC), who supervises the mid-day meal scheme in the block, was also held accountable. A report has been submitted to the Collector, and authorities have assured strict disciplinary action against those responsible.

Negligence Despite Government Support

Despite government allocations for utensils under the mid-day meal programme, students were made to eat on torn pages. Local residents criticized the incident as a violation of children’s fundamental rights, reflecting insensitivity toward poor students.

The administration has pledged to take measures to restore student dignity and prevent similar incidents in the future.

Previous Mid-Day Meal Incident

This is not an isolated case. In November 2025, students at Hullapur Government School in Sheopur district were served meals on paper by a self-help group, instead of steel utensils.

The absence of teachers during the meal worsened the situation. The district administration cancelled the group’s contract and suspended the responsible school official after the incident went viral.