Bihar government school headmaster suspended for alleged mid-day meal rice diversion

Authorities in Bihar have suspended a government school headmaster accused of diverting and selling rice allocated for the mid-day meal programme, a scheme designed to provide nutritional support to schoolchildren across the state.

The suspension comes as the state education department moves to hold the official accountable for the alleged misappropriation of public resources. The incident highlights ongoing concerns about the implementation and oversight of the mid-day meal scheme, a critical social welfare programme that serves thousands of students in government schools.

Formal disciplinary proceedings have been initiated against the headmaster under the Bihar Government Servants (Classification, Control, and Appeal) Rules, 2005. The process will determine appropriate administrative action based on findings of the investigation into the allegations.

The mid-day meal scheme remains one of India's largest school feeding programmes, aimed at improving nutritional outcomes and encouraging school attendance among economically disadvantaged children. Cases of resource diversion undermine the scheme's objectives and trigger administrative action to ensure accountability and protect the interests of beneficiary students.