The mid-day meal tragedy in Chhapra in Bihar has now becoming a topic of mudslinging and blame game among the political parties. But who's responsible for the death of more than 20 children? CNN-IBN's Bihar and Jharkhand bureau chief Prabhakar Kumar joined IBNLive readers for an interaction on the issue.
Q. Bihar remains to be one of the backward state in India. Lack of education has made people unaware of the outcomes to a disaster. Do you think that this state will remain the same even if the government tries to take different steps. Asked by: Rahul
A. No Rahul, not at all. Things are changing fast, even on education front and the day is not far away when you will see noticeable change here in Bihar as well.
Q. Hello sir, this case presents before us an example of showing limitation of governance and how people conscience matters in development. What we see here is carelessness on the part of school authority in implementing the procedure, govt is giving funds to them, they were also familiarised with basic rules, but if we as people are so ignorant, then till what end we will keep blaming the govt? your opinion please. Asked by: Ashish
A. See, its unfortunate that this tragedy happened in Bihar but trust me when I say this it can also happen in any other state we have to admit the flaw in the system its not that Maharashtra or Gujarat or Tamil Nadu follow the best practices but yes their practice is certainly better than that in Bihar. When you see the implementation of mid day meal scheme on ground, only thought that will cross your mind is that some kind of divine power is running this scheme and only god delayed this tragedy from happening earlier.
Q. I was going through the website http://saran.bih.nic.in/Admin_Num.htm, and was surprised to find there are 188 different types of officers working in the district. Amongst these, most surprising was, an exclusive position for mid day meal incharge who is the D.E.O. Further, there were 21 Block Education Extension Officer and 20 Block Development Officers. Then there is one District Program Officer (ICDS), added to these there are host of NGO's working in the district. Your have officers for high schools, middle schools etc. I am sure this would be the case in almost all the districts in the country. Now with this kind of Machinery in place, I am really surprised why any lapse should take place. Is it impossible for the Machinery to keep a vigil on the such Mishaps from occurring. It clearly shows callous attitude when it comes to implementation or execution. Somebody should question what are these officers doing daily, is it difficult for some of these officers to have lunch with the kids, I think if we start focussing on the solutions, we can find many, upload the list of schools in each district where this scheme is implemented, let the cooking be handed over to mothers of kids studying the same school, at least they will not cook bad food for their own children. What is required is will and to the question who is responsible" we all are responsible, we wake up only when there is such tragedy. Asked by: S ESHWAR
A. You have made a very logical and valuable suggestion in the end of letting mothers be the cook. I would certainly bring this to the knowledge of concerned authorities. And yes, all districts have team of officials, as you have mentioned but unless a tragedy of this nature and scale strikes us, they prefer lying low and not taking responsibilities. Hopefully in this case, many of them would be punished and taken to task.
Q. Bihar govt officials and the contractor who supplied food materials? Asked by: john
A. John, certainly action would be taken against contractors and officials but in this particular case, quality of materials supplied wasn't a issue but it's a case of poisoning the food. How it happened? who did it? why they did it? are the questions which is being investigated.
Q. If this has happened to score a political goal then those people responsible must be sent to gallows? Asked by: Prathap
A. I agree, if it is found to be done for political gains ( by any political leader/outfit), they sud rather be shot dead. It's the most heinous crime one can ever do...killing innocent kids.
Q. Why media didn't cover the poor quality of food matter earlier? Does Media wait for something like that to happen to make it a news? Asked by: vimlesh
A. Media keeps on reporting on these issues but unfortunately it never gets prominence or gets noticed unless a incident like this happens........its unfortunate but true.
Q. Isn't the district authorities (both education and PDS) responsible for the death of the kids? Also the state authorities should have ensured that the quality of food supplies that reaches each district is good. Surprise checks and auditing should have been done in state and district warehouses. This in turn would have forced the authorities to take things more seriously. Your thoughts. Asked by: EM
A. Why only district and state authorities? why not political masters. In my opinion, everyone in this chain should be taken to task, should be severely punished so that it acts as a deterrent for others in future.
Q. Do you think Rahul Gandhi, Akhilesh Yadav Or Nitish Kumar etc can eat the same rubbish which is being served to children of our country? Why media is not asking direct questions to them and make them answer because I am quite sure it would have been biggest news of all times if something like that happens in Gujarat. Asked by: vimlesh
A. I concede and I agree. Infact, there should be a system in place where district level officials, should eat this meal every day. Share kids Tiffin/meals, media has raised these questions but unfortunately political masters pretend as if they didn't hear anything.
Q. The centre state conflict it seems will never end due to the passing the buck game. Centre said you were warned and state immediately retorts no such info came our way.Instead of joining in investigations and acting on things which went wrong is the right attitude of the Babus/Netas? Asked by: sundar1950in
A. Sundar, this is the most unfortunate part of this whole tragedy. Instead of learning lessons. Political games are being played and blame game going on, let me clarify here that neither does centre issues such warning with seriousness nor does states takes them seriously, slackness is inherent part of the system.
Q. Arrest Warrant issued for accused Meena Devi is the flash news. So the buck will stop at that level? Asked by: sundar1950in
A. Though she is apparently at fault and she must be taken to task....she is not the soul culprit...you are right sundar, many more heads sud roll...rather everyone in the chain sud be taken to task...we are continuously raising this issue.
Q. What will you suggest to overcome these kind of tragedies in future rather than blaming.Nothing will change unless we do . Asked by: Suhail K Y
A. Suhail, the fact is...we don't have a system in place to run the largest food program of the world...priority sud be to improve the system...and quality...but unfortunately ...govt always gets away by few eye-wash steps...and we stand clapping for it.
Q. There is news today that Pesticide probably was from a container used to hold cooking oil. Was the cooking oil supplier at fault for wrong packaging ?? Asked by: sundar1950in
A. No...this pesticide got missed locally...how? when? why? are still unanswered.
Q. Will Nitish apologise for what has happened under his able governance which is inclusive? Asked by: NotModiFan
A. He sud...but sadly...Nitish kumar has not even visited the hospital till date where ailing kids are admitted. its merely 10 kms from his residence.
Q. Isn't the district authorities (both education and PDS) responsible for the death of the kids? Also the state authorities should have ensured that the quality of food supplies that reaches each district is good. Surprise checks and auditing should have been done in state and district warehouses. This in turn would have forced the authorities to take things more seriously. Asked by: EM
A. Why only district and state authorities? why not political masters. In my opinion, everyone in this chain. Should be taken to task. Should be severely punished so that it acts as a deterrent for others in future.
Q. Isn't it impossible for any Govt to be responsible for everything? This is a sad state in India now and partly perpetrated by the media. As someone said in your panel, shouldn't mid day meals be undertaken by Panchayat or such local bodies and we need more power decentralization in India. Asked by: Narayan
A. Agree, here I'm not getting into the debate on which model to follow be it Panchayat. State govt or district administration, our concern is to have a accountable system in place which can ensure healthy and safe meals for our kids.
Q. CM should take the responsibility of this and take stringent actions and design a system to provide better hygienic food to children. Asked by: Sri Kumar
A. Obviously Kumar, as a head of the state, its his responsibility to do so. Lets hope this tragedy shakes them well, wakes them up so that Chapra may remain as the last of such tragedy.aamen !!!
Q. The school authorities or the Government definitely have contributed to the incident by negligence which definitely is not intentional. To what extent will the state own up it's responsibility? Asked by: sundar1950in
A. They have not owned the responsibility by words. Let's hope they do it by action.
Q. Be it natural calamity or accidental one, the way the politicians have reacted reflects the poor outlook they have to society's problems. Why do we continuously allow them to lead us. Is it true that people get leaders they deserve? Asked by: sundar1950in
A. Unfortunately its true Sundar. We all know this, I think the fault lies with us. Not with those politicians.
Q. Political opponents asking for resignation of the ministers smacks of their opportunistic politics. Has decency and logic decided never to be near to an Indian politician? Asked by: sundar1950in
A. Asking resignation is part of political way of mounting pressure. I don't see anything wrong with it. My concern is different, fix the responsibility and take them to task, be it bureaucrats or politicians however, high and mighty they might be.
Q. Primary responsibility is with the school authority. Further remarks should be made on completion of investigations. Why is the media hastening the judgement and prosecution? Asked by: sundar1950in
A. School is just the executing body. Its collective responsibility of everyone in the chain who look after implementation of this scheme. Why single out school. I think right from block level, Panchayat level officers, district level officers and even state level officers. Everyone sud be held responsible and stringent action taken only then it will inculcate some fear among others.
Q. No one would have intentionally done to create a mess like this. This must have been an accidental mix up and ingestion. Why all concerned have not joined hands to extend support to Victims and their families? Asked by: sundar1950in
A. You are right, priority should be support to family of victims because they are actually very poor and yes, its case of accidental mix up but still, its certainly a wakening call as well wakening call that accidents like this can happen again.
Q. The murder plot suggestion is unwanted and even if it could be so, is made without any basis. Why this statement and controversy? Asked by: sundar1950in
A. It's part of political gimmick, better to ignore it.
Q. It has to be the responsibility of state govt? In the imaginary world like so-called secularism anybody can dance, but these are real problem they can't escape the criminal culpability. Whether the life of kids does hold water compare to so-called secularism by Nitish govt. Is it the only pseudosecularism! where the life of people doesn't matter because they are born to be victimized. Asked by: Satya
A. There are 2 straight facts.: A: no one sud be allowed to escape the criminal culpability. Those responsible sud be given stringent most punishment B : this has nothing to do with secularism or pseudo-secularism. Its a result of bad governance. Its a result of rotten system in place. A system which is crippled, which is not good enough to run this world's largest food program and Nitish Kumar and his govt is indeed responsible for this. They just can't escape their responsibility.
Comments
0 comment