In a deeply troubling incident in eastern India, over 100 school children reportedly fell ill after consuming a free school meal that had been contaminated by a dead snake. The shocking event occurred on April 24, 2025, in Mokama, a city located in Bihar state, prompting outrage across the region and raising urgent questions about food safety standards in public schools.
According to a statement released by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) of India, the incident took place when lunch was served to around 500 children as part of the government’s Mid-Day Meal program. In what has been described as an egregious act of negligence, the cook in charge of preparing the food reportedly discovered the dead reptile in the meal but proceeded to serve it anyway after removing it from the pot.
The NHRC, a statutory body tasked with protecting and promoting human rights, has taken serious note of the case. “The Commission has observed that the contents, if true, raise a serious issue of violation of the human rights of the students,” it stated in an official press release. It also confirmed that it has launched an investigation into the incident and has issued notices to senior officials in Bihar, demanding a detailed report within two weeks. This report is expected to include the current health status of the affected children and explain how such a lapse occurred.
News of the incident sparked immediate outrage in the local community. Residents of Mokama took to the streets in protest, expressing their anger at what they described as government apathy and gross negligence in the handling of children’s welfare. Parents and activists gathered outside the school and local administrative offices, demanding accountability and immediate improvements in food safety and hygiene practices.
Free School Meals for children in India
Local health authorities responded swiftly to the crisis by providing medical attention to the sick children, many of whom were admitted to nearby hospitals and health centers for treatment. While none of the students are currently reported to be in critical condition, the event has stirred widespread concern about the overall quality and safety of school-provided meals.
The Mid-Day Meal scheme, which is the largest school lunch program in the world, was initially launched in 1925 in the southern city of Chennai (then known as Madras) with the goal of combating classroom hunger and increasing school enrollment among children from low-income families. Over the decades, it has grown to cover millions of students across India, offering free lunches on school days to children in government and government-aided institutions.
Despite its noble goals and wide reach, the program has been marred in recent years by reports of substandard food quality, lack of hygiene, and administrative lapses. Critics have pointed to poor monitoring mechanisms and inadequate infrastructure as some of the reasons for recurring problems.
One of the most tragic incidents linked to the Mid-Day Meal scheme occurred in 2013, also in Bihar, when 23 schoolchildren died after consuming a meal contaminated with pesticide. That event had led to nationwide calls for reform in the way the program was managed and implemented, yet progress has been uneven.
Experts argue that while the Mid-Day Meal scheme remains vital for the nutrition and educational development of millions of children, recurring food safety incidents threaten to erode public trust in the system. “This is not just a food issue—it’s a human rights issue,” said a public health analyst. “When children fall ill or die because of something that is supposed to support their development, it indicates a failure at multiple levels.”
The NHRC’s investigation into the April 24 incident is expected to shed light on what exactly went wrong and who should be held accountable. In the meantime, pressure is mounting on the Bihar state government to take immediate corrective measures, including enhanced monitoring, staff training, and stricter hygiene protocols.
As families in Mokama wait anxiously for answers, the incident serves as a grim reminder of the urgent need for systemic reform in India’s school meal programs. While initiatives like the Mid-Day Meal scheme have the potential to uplift millions, their success depends on diligent oversight, transparency, and a commitment to the well-being of the country’s most vulnerable citizens—its children.