The quality of midday meals in Madhya Pradesh is under fire again. On Republic Day, children in a government middle school in Maihar district were served food on scrap paper. This troubling video soon went viral. Earlier, a similar incident in November 2025 in Sheopur also drew nationwide criticism. In Maihar’s Bhatgawan village, students ate halwa-poori on torn book pages placed on the ground. The video showed kids sitting on jute mats with food served directly on paper. Opposition Congress slammed the ruling BJP. M.P. Congress president Jitu Patwari shared a video contrasting Chief Minister Mohan Yadav’s meal with the Maihar school incident. He said, “The government is devouring rabri and malai, sacrificing children’s plates to the altar of corruption.” He also asked, “How long will innocent children in Madhya Pradesh continue to endure shame and humiliation due to the government’s negligence?” Maihar Collector Rani Batad told The Hindu that she recommended suspending the school principal-in-charge, Sunil Kumar Tripathi. This followed an inquiry by District Project Coordinator Vishnu Tripathi, which found negligence on the principal’s part. Batad added that the local Block Resource Centre in-charge had one month’s salary deducted. Notices were sent to officials involved, including the DPC and midday meal in-charge at the zilla panchayat, and the self-help group providing food. The Sub-Divisional Magistrate has been ordered to investigate further. Batad clarified that plates were available, and the mess was not due to a lack of resources. The incident has once again spotlighted serious flaws in the state’s midday meal scheme and raised questions about official accountability.