Active Stocks
Thu Mar 28 2024 15:59:33
  1. Tata Steel share price
  2. 155.90 2.00%
  1. ICICI Bank share price
  2. 1,095.75 1.08%
  1. HDFC Bank share price
  2. 1,448.20 0.52%
  1. ITC share price
  2. 428.55 0.13%
  1. Power Grid Corporation Of India share price
  2. 277.05 2.21%
Business News/ Opinion / Quick Edit/  Mid-day meals tragedy reveals dysfunctional governance
BackBack

Mid-day meals tragedy reveals dysfunctional governance

On a government system that is being loaded with more commitments than it will be able to meet

Women sit next to their sick children who consumed spurious meals at a Bihar school on Tuesday. Photo: Krishna Murari Kishan/Reuters (Krishna Murari Kishan/Reuters)Premium
Women sit next to their sick children who consumed spurious meals at a Bihar school on Tuesday. Photo: Krishna Murari Kishan/Reuters
(Krishna Murari Kishan/Reuters)

There is evidently no shortage of big issues that need urgent national attention—the economy, secularism, Hindutva, cricket and the latest Bollywood scandal. But spare a thought for those innocent children who have died in Bihar just because they ate lunch at school.

Their deaths are merely the latest reminder of a rotten system that has bloated under the guise of serving the poor. It was once called socialism. It is now described as inclusion. The growing budgets assigned to impressive schemes are often covers for loot.

It is easy to play the blame game when such a tragedy strikes, saying this party or that is responsible. But the problem is a deeper one—a government system that is barely functional, but is being loaded with more commitments than it will be able to meet.

The deaths of those children tell us a bigger story of dysfunctional governance.

Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed – it's all here, just a click away! Login Now!

Catch all the Business News, Market News, Breaking News Events and Latest News Updates on Live Mint. Download The Mint News App to get Daily Market Updates.
More Less
Published: 17 Jul 2013, 11:35 PM IST
Next Story footLogo
Recommended For You
Switch to the Mint app for fast and personalized news - Get App