By Special Correspondent
Bhopal: A series of disturbing incidents involving children across Madhya Pradesh has sparked sharp criticism from the Opposition, with the Pradesh Congress Committee alleging systemic failure under the BJP government. Congress leaders said the incidents were not isolated but reflected insensitive governance, administrative apathy and deep-rooted corruption.
In Sheopur district, children were allegedly served meals on sheets of discarded newspapers. In Vidisha, a young girl was seen scavenging food from a roadside garbage heap. More recently, in Maihar, children were reportedly served mid-day meals on torn pages of notebooks on Republic Day, a national festival.
PCC president Jeetu Patwari said these were not mere images but symbols of the collapse of governance and human sensitivity in the state. He said the incidents amounted to an insult not only to children but also to education, the Constitution and the dignity associated with learning.
Patwari noted that the situation was especially alarming as Madhya Pradesh ranks second nationally in malnutrition, with nearly 10 lakh malnourished children, including about 1.36 lakh suffering from severe malnutrition. He cited official central government data and a CAG report confirming irregularities in nutrition schemes.
Despite mounting debt, he alleged, the state government has failed to protect the health, dignity and future of its children, and must be held accountable.
