Harda School Scandal: 300 Tribal Students Protest Worm-Infested Food, Negligence

• Approximately 300 students from Eklavya Model Residential School in Harda scaled hostel walls and marched 35 km to protest poor conditions.
• Students alleged worm-infested food, dirty water, and abusive language from Principal Sonia Anand, who reportedly told them, "You are tribals, what do you know about the taste of cashews and almonds?"
• The protest began at 4 AM, with students locking teachers' quarters before leaving, leading to a frantic response from district administration and Union Minister DD Uikey.
• Harda Collector Siddharth Jain intervened, meeting students on the National Highway and providing a written assurance, after which students agreed to return.
• An inspection by MLA Abhijeet Shah revealed a dead frog, insects, and moss in the school's open water tank, highlighting severe deficiencies.

Why It Matters: A 36-crore central government school in Harda faced student revolt over appalling living conditions.