Sitamarhi Principal Fined ₹4.81 Lakh for Mid-day Meal Attendance Scam

• Mid-Day Meal (MDM) irregularities were uncovered at Middle School Ratwara in Sitamarhi, Bihar.
• The in-charge headmaster was fined over ₹4.81 lakh for inflating student attendance and misusing MDM funds and food grains.
• Inspections revealed a significant discrepancy between reported and actual student attendance, with only 54 students present against an average of 694 reported.
• Departmental action is recommended against the headmaster, and a Block Resource Person faces a salary cut for weak monitoring.
• House-to-house surveys will be conducted across all district schools to ensure transparency in MDM operations.

Why It Matters: Principal's MDM fraud exposes corruption in child nutrition, leading to a hefty fine.