- Porcelain plates used during Union Minister Chirag Paswan's visit.
- CM Samrat Choudhary's visit saw food served in steel thalis.
- Ordinary flood victims received food on basic leaf plates.
Jagran Correspondent, Hajipur: Bihar is in the grip of severe flooding following heavy rainfall, with swollen rivers inundating 13 districts and affecting around 27 lakh people. As floodwaters enter homes and surround villages, thousands of people are struggling for food, shelter and basic assistance.
The state government has stepped up relief and rescue operations, with Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary personally monitoring the situation and issuing instructions to ensure that assistance reaches those affected.
But amid the ongoing flood-relief efforts, a different issue has drawn attention in Vaishali district which raises questions about the way arrangements at a community kitchen change depending on whether a VIP is present.
In last few days, three noticeably different arrangements were seen at the same community kitchen.
When Union Minister for Food Processing Industries Chirag Paswan visited, flood-affected people were served food on porcelain plates. When Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary arrived a few days later, food was served in gleaming steel thalis.
But on an ordinary day, when there was no ministerial or VIP visit, flood victims were served food on leaf plates.
The question is not whether leaf plates should be used. The real question is why the arrangements appear to change when a VIP arrives.
The First Instance: Chirag Paswan’s Visit
Union Minister for Food Processing Industries Chirag Paswan arrived in his parliamentary constituency last Friday to assess the situation arising from the floods.
After inspecting the flood-affected areas of Raghopur block along with Vaishali District Magistrate Varsha Singh and Superintendent of Police Shubhaank Mishra, Paswan reached the area near Gangabridge Police Station.
A community kitchen was operating at the site, where food was being served to flood-affected people.
Paswan personally served food to the affected people and later sat down and ate with them. During his visit, the beneficiaries were served food on porcelain plates.
The arrangements at the community kitchen appeared well organised, and the use of proper plates was particularly noticeable.
The Second Instance: Chief Minister’s Visit
Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary arrived in Sonpur and Hajipur on Monday to assess the flood situation and review relief arrangements.
The administration had made extensive preparations for his visit. After inspecting flood-affected areas, the Chief Minister also reached the community kitchen near Gangabridge Police Station.
There, he personally served food to people affected by the floods.
Once again, the arrangements were noticeably different. This time, food was served in shining steel thalis, with the Vaishali administration making elaborate arrangements at the site.
The scene presented during the Chief Minister’s visit stood in contrast to what was witnessed at the same location on an ordinary day.
The Third Instance: An Ordinary Day
On sunday, there was no ministerial visit and no VIP presence at the community kitchen. The arrangements appeared much more basic.
The Dainik Jagran team conducted an on-the-spot assessment of the situation. A large number of flood-affected people had gathered at the community kitchen, creating a rush to get food.
As people jostled to be served first, the situation became chaotic and even reached the point of a scuffle.
The food was being served on leaf plates. There is of course, nothing wrong with serving food on leaf plates. They are commonly used at community meals and can be a practical option, particularly when large numbers of people need to be served.
But that is precisely what makes the contrast noteworthy. When there was no VIP visit, leaf plates were being used. When Union Minister Chirag Paswan arrived, porcelain plates appeared. When Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary visited, gleaming steel thalis were used.
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This raises a simple but important question-- Are the arrangements at the community kitchen meant to serve flood-affected people, or do they change primarily to meet the expectations of visiting VIPs?
The issue is not about the type of plate being used. It is about whether the same standard of dignity, cleanliness and organisation is maintained for flood victims every day not just when a minister or senior leader is present.
According to information provided by the Vaishali district administration, 29 community kitchens were being operated across the district as of Sunday.
The District Magistrate’s office also said that 8,700 packets of dry ration had already been distributed among flood-affected people.
Meanwhile, preparations are underway to provide cash assistance in accordance with the government’s instructions. Even now, however, the situation in the flood-affected areas of the district remains grim. A large number of people are struggling either because floodwaters have entered their homes or because their houses remain surrounded by floodwaters.
( With Inputs from Ravi Shankar Shukla )