BJP MP questions quality of mid-day meals

The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) experienced some uncomfortable moments in the Lok Sabha Wednesday when it had to face tough questions on the mid-day meal scheme from one of its own MPs.

BJP MP from Giridih (Jharkhand) Ravindra Kumar Pandey raised the issue of the quality of mid-day meals being served in schools across the country.

He alleged that the meals being served across the country were "poisonous", which elicited sarcastic comments from opposition benches.

Human Resource Development Minister Smriti Irani was, however, quick to rebut his allegations .

"It is not right to say that poisonous meals are being served as part of the midday meal scheme," she said.

The minister said that the quality of meals being served was closely monitored and she herself had written to state governments in the matter.

"Whenever we get any inputs or complaints from states, we try and address it," Irani said.

Observing that there were guidelines as far as preparing mid-day meals are concerned, she said: "The Supreme Court has said that all mid-day meals served have to be hot cooked meals."