Mid-day Meal: Chicken politics in Bengal, why the opposition came together against the government on mid-day meal, understand

The government of West Bengal, led by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, has issued a new order to provide chicken and seasonal fruits in mid-day meals for schoolchildren in the state. The scheme will be implemented from January to April, and a budget of Rs 371 crore has been approved for it, which will benefit around 1.16 crore children. The ratio of the center and the state in this scheme, which is being run under the PM nutrition program, is 60:40 respectively.

How much will be spent on this scheme?

However, the opposition, including the BJP, Congress, and CPM, has raised concerns over the timing of the scheme, as panchayat elections are scheduled to be held in the state in April-May. They accused Mamata Banerjee of using this scheme to buy votes and divert people's attention from important issues.

BJP said trying to buy votes

Senior BJP leader Rahul Sinha questioned the sudden need to provide chicken and fruits in mid-day meals and claimed that the decision was taken to improve TMC's performance in the upcoming elections. Similarly, the CPM's Sujan Chakraborty raised questions about the government's real intentions and criticized the ruling party for neglecting the school system in the past. The state Congress President Adhir Chowdhary also acknowledged the need for better mid-day meals but urged the government to ensure transparency and prevent corruption.

CPM and Congress also targeted

In response, TMC's Rajya Sabha MP Shantanu Sen dismissed the opposition's allegations and stated that the decision was taken to improve the quality of food for schoolchildren. He accused the BJP of making similar decisions to influence elections in other states and criticized the CPM for their past neglect of the school system.

It is important to note that mid-day meals have been a critical aspect of India's efforts to improve education and nutrition among schoolchildren, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds. However, ensuring the quality and effectiveness of these meals remains a challenge, and it is essential to have transparent and accountable systems to prevent corruption and ensure that children receive adequate nutrition. Therefore, while the opposition's concerns about the timing of the scheme may have some validity, it is also important to acknowledge the need for better mid-day meals for schoolchildren in West Bengal.