Published 12:02 IST, September 2nd 2019
UP: FIR against journo who exposed 'rotis and salt' in mid-day meal
After Republic exposed that children are being fed rotis and salt in their mid-day meal in UP's Mirzapur, the district admin has filed an FIR against journalist
After Republic exposed that children are being fed rotis and salt in their mid-day meal in Uttar Pradesh's Mirzapur district, the district administration has reportedly filed an FIR against a local journalist who captured the video and two others. Sources said that the block education officer has registered an FIR against journalist Pawan Jaiswal and two others for capturing the video that exposed alleged scandal in the mid-day meal. Speaking to Republic TV , journalist Jaiswal said: "On 22 last month, I went to school and made the video, the headmaster and masters do whatever they want. I also informed about the incidents to the DSP. I made the first video at 12:07 minute and then I sent the video to you. CM Yogi said that there should be action as soon as possible. The DM thinks that district has been maligned due to the news and therefore FIR has been registered. Now we will meet the CM. They claim that video is forged. But it is not. I have bytes of the concerned people too."
Activist says situation is appalling
Though Mirzapur District Magistrate (DM) sought an immediate report on the case earlier, speaking to Republic TV, activist Abha Singh said that the case is appalling and shocking: “It shocking because the Uttar Pradesh government doesn’t have to spend its own money. The funds are procured from the Centre and the money is allocated in the Budget.” Citing the case as a clear example of corruption in Mirzapur along with rest of the state, Singh said: “Thousands of crores are given to the Yogi Adityanath-led UP government to provide the mid-day meal. This clearly shows that there is corruption. It can’t be thought of that people are making money out of food meant for children.” Singh further slammed the incident and called for action against authorities in Mirzapur who are responsible for the plight of these children: “The Mirzapur collector needs to suspend the people who are responsible. Just reacting won’t help, but I would like to know from the MLAs of Mirzapur constituency that why aren’t they monitoring the midday meal in schools.” She later concluded by saying that the taxpayer's money was being misused by the Yogi Adityanath government. The money has to be only used for feeding the children, she added.
What is Mid-Day Meal Scheme?
The Mid-day Meal Scheme is a school meal program by the Government of India. The scheme aims to better the nutritional standing of school-age children nationwide. As a part of the scheme, children are provided with lunch. Both primary and upper-primary students are beneficiaries of this scheme.
Updated 12:06 IST, September 2nd 2019