Uttar Pradesh's Primary Education Minister Satish Dwivedi on Wednesday assured that strict action will be taken against those responsible for providing poor quality food to students under the mid-day meal scheme. The minister also assured that all measures will be taken to ensure no such incident takes place again. The state government has also constituted a permanent flying squad and formulated a system for social audit to ensure quality food is provided under mid-day meal scheme in schools. The district authorities have also initiated an inquiry into the matter that was highlighted in Mirzapur where students were given a meal of rotis and salt for a school lunch. 

'Strict action will be taken'

READ | Mirzapur: Rotis And Salt As School Mid-day Meal In Uttar Pradesh

"The state government is taking up several initiatives to improve the education system. However, if such incidents are taking place, the government will ensure action," Dwivedi told ANI. He refused to speak on the statement made by Mirzapur district magistrate (DM) Anurag Patel on the journalist taking a snapshot of the incident instead of making a video.

Dwivedi said, "There is accusation on the journalist that he planned the story. These incidents malign the image of the state government, which is trying to improve the primary education system. This will discourage people from sending their children to these schools." The minister mentioned that the government is trying to improve the education system in the state. "Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath-led state government is very sensitive towards the issues of education in the state. That is why the chief minister asked me to give away shoes and sweaters to these students who used to come to school barefoot earlier," Dwivedi added.

READ | Mirzapur Mid-day Meal: DM Questions Journalist For Making Video

FIR against journalist

After the Republic TV highlighted images showing dozens of children eating rotis with salt in Siyur Primary School in Hinuata village the Block Development Officer (BDO) had filed an FIR against the local journalist who captured the video and two others. 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 taken 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."

READ | UP: FIR Against Journo Who Exposed 'rotis And Salt' In Mid-day Meal

Mirzapur DM blames the journalist

Anurag Patel, the District Magistrate (DM) of Mirzapur, Uttar Pradesh,  blamed Pawan Jaiswal, the journalist who covered ‘Midday Meal Apathy’ in the municipal school. DM Anurag Patel said, “The process of covering news is different. This man (Pawan Jaiswal) called someone to be a part of the video so that he can make a video viral. When it was pointed out that no 'viral' word was used in the video, Patel further said, “But these guys anyway made a video, right? If you’re a print journalist, you could’ve clicked a picture and written about the situation. What’s the point of making a video?” When asked about the items provided in the mid-day meal, Patel said, “Khichdi was given to the kids, and it has salt, rice, and dal all the three ingredients. Also, this meal was given only on that particular day. The children are provided with a proper meal on all the other days.” 

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