Patna High Court takes suo motu cognizance of news report on plight of children in Bhagalpur district due to suspension of midday meals

The Patna High Court on Monday took suo motu cognizance of news reports highlighting that children from marginalized communities in Bihar's Bhagalpur had been forced into garbage picking and scrap selling on account of non-availability of mid-day meals following the closure of schools and Anganwadi centres amid the COVID-19 pandemic..The COVID-19 pandemic has led to the shutting down of schools and Anganwadi centres across the country. Resultantly, the children are deprived of the mid-day meals that would be provided at these schools under the mid-day schemes, thereby affecting the health of these children..On July 6, the Indian Express published a news story highlighting the plight of the children in Bhagalpur district of Bihar wherein children belonging to the economically weaker sections have been forced into begging and garbage collection in order to put food on the table for their families..The Patna High Court took suo motu cognizance of this news report which also points out that due to the suspension of the mid-day meal schemes in the wake of COVID-19 pandemic, the children belonging to the marginalized communities have been the worst sufferers. Taking note of the same, the Court, in its order said:."According to the news item, ever since the lockdown, families and children who come from poor socio- economic backgrounds are facing economic hardships and as a result are unable to put food on the table. Children who are most prone to malnutrition are the worst sufferers of the ongoing pandemic. This is on account of shutting down of the Anganwadi centres and suspending the supply of mid-day meals to children under the various schemes rooted by the Government.".A specific amount of money, in lieu of the mid-day meals the children were entitled to, was to be remitted to the bank accounts of parents of these children given that the midday meals stood suspended. However, many families complained that no remittance to this effect was received by them since April this year. It is in these dire circumstances, that the children of the families were forced into begging, garbage picking, selling scrap, among other things, in order to "put food on the table"..The Patna High Court took cognizance of this news report on the same day as it was published. The Division Bench of Chief Justice Sanjay Karol and Justice S Kumar said that this is a matter that concerns the welfare of the children from the lowermost strata of the society i.e. the "marginalized, downtrodden, socially and economically deprived section of the society.".Many children from these sections rely on and are dependent on the government's mid-day meal scheme for their adequate nutrition. The suspension of the scheme due to the COVID-19 pandemic has put the health of such children at great risk, the Court noted.."The disruption and closure of schools across the State will have a negative impact not just on children's right to education but also in specific cases, their right to adequate food."Patna High Court.The Court is essentially addressing two issues through this litigation, the primary concern being whether the State is providing food and nutritional security to children in the discharge of its Constitutional and statutory duty. Secondarily, it is intended to deal with how the benefit of the mid-day meal scheme can be made available to the children who are adversely impacted by the closure of schools and Anaganwadis..Article 47 of the Constitution of India places a duty upon the State to raise the level of nutrition and standard of living of the people. Further, Section 5 of the National Food Security Act provides for the nutritional support of children. The Court said that these provisions need to be implemented in letter and spirit and as such, it has issued notice to the State of Bihar on the matter. ."We wish to clarify that the present proceedings may not be misunderstood as a direction to opening and recommencing classes," the Court clarified in its order..The Departments of Helath and Education of the State of Bihar have been arrayed as Respondents in the matter and the Court was assured that the State of Bihar would file a response on the issue within two days..The Court sought to suggest the limited opening of community centres, Anganwadis, etc. only for the purpose of meeting the minimum nutritional requirement of children. However, it was added that should this step be taken, all the precautionary measures and norms to guard against COVID-19 ought to be followed. .Regardless, in the meantime, the State must ensure that no child is pushed into begging, rag-picking and such, especially due to unavailability of food.."...we direct the respondents herein to ensure that no child is pushed into or indulges in any activity of rag-picking or beggary, more so on account of lack of food."Patna High Court.The Court also appointed Advocate Chhaya Kirti as Amicus Curiae in the case while Advocate Vikash Kumar accepted notice on behalf of the State of Bihar..In March this year, the Supreme Court had taken suo motu cognizance of non-availability of mid-day meals due to closure of schools and anganwadis on account of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Supreme Court had sought a reply from all the States and Union Territories in this regard..Coronavirus: SC takes suo motu action against unavailability of mid-day meals, seeks reply from state and union territories on action taken.Read Order: