NAMAKKAL: The school noon meal scheme in Namakkal district faced allegations of corruption after govt schoolchildren in Kumarapalayam were served bullet eggs that were rotten and infested with worms. Parents and teachers said the malpractice violated govt norms and endangered children’s health.Under the noon meal scheme, each egg supplied should weigh at least 45 grams, but inspections by school management committees found that many eggs weighed less than 35 grams. “Several eggs were spoiled, with worms inside,” a committee member alleged. He alleged that egg suppliers deliberately mixed bullet eggs with regular supply, while officials responsible for monitoring failed to act.A parent, speaking anonymously, said, “We opened the eggs and saw worms inside. It is not negligence, it is corruption. Someone is profiting by cheating children of their nutrition.”A govt schoolteacher said: “The eggs are underweight and rotten. Officials dismiss complaints, instead of enforcing rules. This shows collusion between suppliers and local administrators.”The controversy followed a TOI report on May 27, which said suppliers planned to sell cold-stored eggs to the noon meal programme. Parents and teachers said corruption involved not only suppliers but also local officials who ignored complaints. Kumarapalayam panchayat union manager V Saravanan visited some schools in the union on Tuesday. Saravanan said he would send a report to the officials concerned, calling for immediate investigation and punishment of those responsible.
