Madhya Pradesh school gets steel plates after video with children eating on newspapers sparks outrage

A primary school in Madhya Pradesh’s Sheopur district was covered with steel sheets after a viral video appeared in a newspaper showing its students eating lunch, drawing severe criticism, including from Congress MP Rahul Gandhi.

BJP leader and former State minister Ramniwas Rawat and Sub-District Magistrate Abhishek Mishra joined students of government school in Hullapur under Vijaypur block and had lunch with them on Saturday (November 8).

A video posted on social media showed the school building being beautified and children enjoying lunch on brand new stainless steel plates.

“Today, our entire team visited the spot and inspected the food. It was found that the food was served properly on plates. I also ate the food there along with public representatives,” Mr. Mishra told reporters on Saturday.

“Similarly, we are following the issue to prevent such an incident from happening again,” he said.

The video of the meal being served in newspapers went viral on Tuesday, November 4, following which the authorities canceled the contract of the self-help group responsible for preparing the meals on Friday, November 7, and handed over the job to the school management committee, the official said.

The official said that the school responsible, Bhogiram Dhakad, has been suspended from the school and notices have been sent to two other staff members.

Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi shared a video on Saturday (November 8). X School children’s lunch was reported in the newspaper and the state and central government were targeted through it.

He says that the “evolution” of the ruling BJP is just an illusion and that the real secret of the party coming to power is “Vyavastha” (system).

“These are the same innocent children on whose dreams the future of the country depends and they have not received even a plate of dignity,” Mr Gandhi said in his Hindi post.

“Such a prime minister and chief minister should be ashamed for nurturing the future of the country’s children in this pathetic situation,” the Congress leader added.