Worms Found in Mid-Day Meals at 75 Bihar Schools, Probe Ordered

The mid-day meal scheme, a flagship programme across Indian states, aims to improve school enrolment and provide nutritional support to children. However, on Tuesday, students in 75 government schools in Arwal district, Bihar, were served food contaminated with worms, forcing them to throw away their meals.

Videos circulating on social media showed students lining up to discard the worm-infested food into dustbins. In one clip, children are seen pointing out worms in the soybean curry served alongside rice. Reports indicate that the rice was also affected.

The meal supply in Arwal was handled by an agency named 'Royal Manav Mitra Seva Samiti'. On the day of the incident, the agency supplied a meal of rice and a curry made with soybean and potato.

Students who spoke to reporters said they alerted their teachers immediately after spotting the worms and refused to eat. The incident raised serious questions about the quality and safety of mid-day meals in government educational institutions.

Following the complaints, the district education officer ordered an immediate investigation. Asgar Hussain, the education officer for Arwal, said strict action would be taken against the agency if negligence or fault is found. 'There will be no compromise regarding the health of children,' he asserted.

This episode highlights ongoing concerns about the implementation of the mid-day meal scheme, which serves millions of children daily. While the programme has been credited with boosting attendance and reducing classroom hunger, recurring reports of contaminated food underscore the need for robust quality checks and accountability in supply chains.

The investigation will examine how the contaminated food was prepared and supplied, and whether the agency failed to follow hygiene standards. Parents and civil society groups have urged the authorities to ensure such lapses are not repeated.