Quality of mid-day meal rice in BMC schools questioned, inquiry ordered

Questions have been raised over the quality of rice given to children under the mid-day meal scheme in Mumbai Municipal Corporation schools. It is alleged that good-quality rice is being removed during transportation and distribution and replaced with poor-quality rice. Urban Education Committee chairperson Rajeshri Shirwadkar has ordered an inquiry into the matter.

At the committee's meeting on Monday, Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) member Priyank Raut produced a sample of the rice. He also submitted to the committee a copy of the FIR registered in a case in which a truck carrying ration supplies was stopped in Bhiwandi a year ago. Raut demanded an inquiry into the alleged irregularities in the matter.

At the same meeting, Shiv Sena (UBT) member Ankit Prabhu raised the issue of a rising number of dengue and malaria patients in Mumbai Municipal Corporation schools. He demanded regular health check-ups for students, and inspection of water tanks in schools to stop mosquitoes from breeding. Prabhu also said that necessary health measures should be taken to protect students from heat-related illnesses.

Congress corporator Qamar Jahan Siddiqui questioned the rising expenditure on Mumbai Municipal Corporation kindergartens. She said the administration should explain how the funds spent on these kindergartens are used.

According to the figures presented by Siddiqui, Rs 14.50 crore was spent on kindergartens in financial year 2024-25. The budget provision for 2025-26 was raised to Rs 18.46 crore, an increase of 27.35 per cent. She demanded that details of actual expenditure in 2025-26 be submitted.

Siddiqui also sought the number of kindergartens running in each ward, the number of registered students and their attendance figures. She asked when the kindergartens were last physically inspected, what method is used to verify student attendance, and whether any case of overpayment has come to light. She also demanded that the list of kindergartens in every ward and their inspection reports be placed before the committee.

Committee chairperson Rajeshri Shirwadkar has reserved the matter. She said the administration will study the issues raised.