Demand for extra helping of 'khichdi' gets girl thrashed, father killed

Few months ago, her brother was pushed off the school’s terrace when he asked for an extra helping of food.

Though Bihar government has bestowed state-run primary and secondary schools with mid-day meal services, the scenario isn’t all that rosy - children for whom these facilities are made available still find it hard to avail them. Who would have imagined that a mere altercation over an extra helping of 'khichdi' in the course of a mid-day meal would have led to an someone’s death.

12-year-old Khasheed, a class five student at Rajkiya Prathmik Vidyalaya in Araria’s Gokhlapur, was allegedly hit for asking an extra helping of 'khichdi'. Protesting the impudent behaviour, when the girl’s father Mohammad Shagir approached the school he got severely thrashed that eventually led to his death.

According to The Indian Express report, the father’s girl was ill-treated by the teachers and the cook of the school. Giving in to his anger, the cook kicked Shagir between his legs that left him unconscious.

This isn’t for the first time that Kasheeda’s family is in trouble. Six months ago when the girl’s brother, a class-2 student, had put forth a similar demand, was pushed off the school’s terrace leaving him with a fractured leg. Since then, he dreads going to school.

A complaint has been filed with the police against three teachers and the cook of the school who were allegedly responsible for the distasteful event. According to reports, the perpetrators have been absconding. The school has been closed since the mishap took place.

The Bihar government has rendered a meagre amount of Rs 3.86 per children for buying pulses and vegetables for children admitted to government run primary schools. However, the amount witnesses a slight rise for children belonging to Class-5 and above which is Rs 5.78 each for each student. According to statistical records, Bihar has about 70,000 government-run primary and secondary schools serving mid-day meal to 2.5 crore children.

The mid-day meal has been a fodder for rigorous scrutiny since the tragic Chappra even of 2013 that killed more 23 children after the deceased ate poisonous food served under the mid-day meal programme.

Though an FIR has been lodged with the police, the case still awaits Shagir’s post mortem report that would ensure the cause behind his death.

According to Kasheed’s mother, Shagir was hale and hearty and it was the undue brawl that led to her husband’s death. The tragic event befalling them was no less than a sudden jolt as Shagir was the sole bread earner of the family.

When the chairman of the school was enquired of the situation, he said that he wasn’t present in the school on that fateful day. However, he tried to snub the event stating that the school is often being prodded for serving extra helpings of food.

Kasheed’s family struggles to make both ends meet. Their story is not only poignant but also displeasing. Despite Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s bombarding promises, it seems, few pockets in Bihar continue to reel under the wrath of poverty while the government turns a blind eye to it.