Mid-day meal NGO under scanner: Minister

PATNA: HRD minister Hari Narayan Singh on Thursday said the department has sought an explanation from an NGO, Stri Shakti, about insects in the mid-day meal given to schoolchildren in Saran district.
He said insects were found in the food given to children in two schools in the district. "There appears to be a conspiracy behind the incident. The NGO makes food for many schools.Insects should have been found in the food of all the schools," he said.
The minister was replying to a call attention notice of Manik Chandra Rai and Ram Das Rai, both RJD.
The minister also referred to an incident in Harnaut, Nalanda, on July 15 where 26 children fell ill after taking mid-day meal. He said a dead lizard was found in the food and children were taken to hospitals for treatment. The minister said the principal was arrested in this connection.
Ram Das and Manik Chandra, not satisfied with the minister's answer, alleged massive irregularities in the mid-day meal scheme.