Arwal, August 22: A shocking incident has emerged from Arwal district in Bihar, where complaints have surfaced regarding the presence of worms in the mid-day meals served at approximately 75 government schools. Students refused to eat the contaminated food, leading to a complete disposal of the meals, leaving many hungry.
The issue came to light on August 18, 2023, when children noticed small white worms in the vegetables served during lunch. The sight of the worms caused panic among the students and prompted immediate action from the school administration, which halted the meal service.
Upon receiving complaints, officials from the education department initiated an investigation. District Education Officer Asgar Hussain confirmed that the District Program Officer for Mid-Day Meals has been dispatched to look into the matter. If any irregularities are found, a First Information Report (FIR) will be filed against the responsible agency. Meanwhile, the supply of meals to the affected schools has been suspended.
The mid-day meal supply in Arwal district was managed by an agency named ‘Royal Human Mitra Seva Samiti,’ which provided rice and soybean-potato vegetables to the schools.
In a related incident on August 18, at a school in Nalanda district’s Noor Sarai block, children were served detergent powder instead of salt when they requested it separately, resulting in over 35 students being hospitalized due to complaints of stomach pain, vomiting, and dizziness after consuming the meal.
This alarming situation raises serious concerns about food safety and quality in school meal programs, highlighting the urgent need for oversight and accountability in such initiatives.