Sir — The tragedy that unfolded at the target-oriented Bilaspur sterilization camp is appalling, and unacceptable in any civil society. Poor women are offered cash incentives to undergo sterilization at the risk of their lives. It is shocking that all human values and medical ethics are compromised in the mad race to meet the numbers. The death of mostly poor and illiterate women in the botched sensationalist surgeries in Chhattisgarh brings back into focus a long-running, contentious state-run programme that is neither transparent nor clinically safe, nor even greatly beneficial in stabilizing India's population.

The shocking state of affairs at Government-run target-oriented sterilization programmes exists not just in Bilaspur but nationwide too.

SIR, The death of 22 children belonging to the age group of 8-12 years after a midday meal, contaminated with pesticides, is horrifying.

The shocking incident has exposed the poor monitoring of the midday meal programme, not merely in Bihar but across the country. The Economist once noted: "In a country, where nearly half of the children are undernourished and struggle to go to school , providing a free meal scheme will bolster school enrolment, eliminate hunger and illiteracy among the poor masses, enabling children from diverse backgrounds and castes to share a hygienic nutrition meal with specific calories and protein levels on a common platform together. And this will bury social prejudice". On paper, it is a noble scheme, indeed the world's largest feeding programme that covers 120 million children in 102 million schools in the country.

The meal should be prepared in hygienic kitchens. The quality must be strictly monitored. This will call for frequent visits by inspectors and senior officials. For all the talk of economic growth, the basic conditions in schools are ever so appalling.

ever so appalling.-Yours, etc.,

Three hundred and fifty children from a government school falling sick after a midday meal, is shocking and an immensely regrettable happening.

It only goes to expose the poor monitoring of the midday meal programme, not merely in Karnataka, but across the country. We expected that the scheme would be better monitored in this state due to the involvement of some well-meaning NGOs and social organisations.

The noble objective of the midday meal scheme was to reduce the school dropout rate and address the problem of malnutrition — not make them sick. On paper, it is a noble scheme, indeed the world’s largest feeding programme that covers 120 million children in 102 million schools in the country. But in planning and execution, it seems to be an entirely different story.

Why is it so hard to ensure that the meals should be prepared in hygienic kitchens and keep a strict eye on quality control? Frequent visits from inspectors and senior officials would ensure compliance.

For all the talk of economic growth, the basic conditions in schools are ever so-appalling.

This is clearly a case of downright negligence on part of the local administration that needs strict action.

Sir — This refers to the news report, “Darkness shrouds mid-day” (July 18). The Pioneer-LE The tragic death of 22 children who were fed contaminated food, is appalling and a matter of shame. The terrible incident has exposed the shocking lapse on the part of those entrusted with the task to oversee the proper implementation and monitoring of the mid-day meal scheme.

In a country where nearly half the population of children is undernourished and struggles to go to school, providing free-meal scheme bolsters school enrollment, eliminates hunger and illiteracy among the poor masses. It also enables children from diverse backgrounds to share a meal together and thus bury social prejudices.

The scheme reportedly reaches out to almost 120 million children in schools across the length and breadth of India. However, this laudable effort, like the other fancy schemes of the Congress-led UPA Government, is marred by corruption and shoddy implementation.

Though the Government talks big about economic growth, equity, social justice and progress, it has failed miserably to improve the basic conditions in Government schools across the country, from where the nation’s future generation will emerge.

The tragic death of 25 children between the age of 4-12 years after being fed food contaminated with pesticides is appalling. This shocking incident has caused national outrage and has exposed the tremendous lapse in the implementation and monitoring of the midday meal program by state governments.

Economists believed that in a country, where nearly half of children are undernourished and struggle to go to school, providing free meal scheme would bolster school enrollment, eliminate hunger and illiteracy among poor masses. This noble midday meal scheme is the world’s largest feeding program, reaching 120 millions children in schools across length and breath of India.

Midday food should be cooked at separate hygienic places having proper cooking and storage facilities. Its quality should be routinely monitored with frequent visits of inspectors and higher officials.

Milk adulteration, a very serious concern, is not being considered on a priority basis by the authorities. The media has reported that 70% of the milk sold in India is adulterated with fertilizer, bleach and detergent. Consumption of such milk can lead to serious health hazards, especially in children. Although courts have taken suo moto cognisance of the media reports and issued notice, people have been suffering for long with adulterated milk and food insinuated into the market by unscrupulous traders taking advantage of lack of stringent laws.

The authorities should initiate urgent steps to prevent this menace. Periodic tests should be conducted on the product to ensure that these are fit for human consumption.

The Centre and states should work in tandem and enact uniform and stringent laws to make this crime a non-bailable offence.