Midday meals left 900 children ill

More than 900 children were reported ill across the country with zero fatalities due to the consumption of mid-day meals in the past three years, according to officials of the Human Resource Development Ministry.

The Ministry had received 35 complaints from 15 States and Union Territories (UTs) regarding substandard food quality in the same period.

“A total number of 930 children were reported ill and none of them died after eating such food in the country in the last three years and current year. The overall responsibility for providing cooked and nutritious midday meals to eligible children lies with State governments,” a senior HRD ministry official said.