In a disturbing case of civic negligence, worms were found in the rice served to students under the midday meal scheme at a government school in Bisaralli village of Koppal district.
The incident came to light after the food was cooked and served, when students and staff noticed live and dead worms in the rice. The discovery immediately caused panic and anger among those present at the school.
Children notice infestation while eating
According to reports, children realised something was wrong only after food was served on their plates. “Kids realised that there were worms walking around or dead worms in their plate,” said journalist Nagarjun Dwarkana, who reported on the incident.
Teachers and staff confirmed that the infestation was visible in the cooked rice, raising serious concerns about the quality of raw materials and hygiene practices followed under the scheme.
Questions over storage and quality checks
Preliminary information suggests that the storage area where rice was kept may have been infested, pointing to lapses in proper storage, inspection and quality control.
The midday meal scheme is intended to improve nutrition and school attendance among children, particularly in rural and economically weaker areas. However, incidents such as this have once again highlighted gaps in monitoring and accountability.
Parents and local residents expressed shock and anger, questioning how such contaminated food could reach children despite existing safety guidelines.
Authorities act after public outrage
Following the uproar, education department officials visited the school and reviewed the situation. Authorities have issued a show-cause notice to the headmaster, seeking an explanation for the lapse.
Officials said further action would be taken based on the findings of the inquiry, including checking suppliers, storage facilities and the role of those responsible for food preparation.
Demand for strict accountability
Child rights activists and community members have demanded strict action against those responsible, stressing that negligence in food safety puts children’s health at serious risk.
They have also called for regular inspections, better storage infrastructure and stronger oversight to ensure such incidents are not repeated.