Patna, 28 February (IANS). About 60 students fell ill at Shri Chandpur Primary School in Harnaut block of Nalanda, Bihar on Friday after eating midday meal.
About two hours after eating the Mead Day meal, the students complained of stomach pain and vomiting. Students suspect that they have suffered disease due to boiled eggs served in lunch.
On receiving the information, the local health officer reached the school and rushed the victim students to Kalyan Vigha Referral Hospital. Dr. Jitendra Kumar Singh, who led the team treating the students, confirmed that the students were recovering.
BPM Manish Kumar said that 25 students have been discharged, while the rest will be sent home soon.
District Education Officer (DEO) Rajkumar said that an inquiry is going on to find out that the problem has arisen due to poor food quality or negligence in preparation.
The Education Department has assured that monitoring procedures will be tightened to eliminate negligence in food preparation and distribution.
DEO Rajkumar said that food samples have been sent to the laboratory for testing and strict action will be taken against those found responsible.
Officials have assured that steps will be taken to prevent such incidents in future.
The mid-day meal program is very important to provide nutritional assistance to school children and such incidents create serious concerns about food security and hygiene in government schools.
After this incident, parents and local citizens have expressed serious concern about the quality of mid-day meal given in government schools.
Parents say that children’s health cannot be compromised. He has urged the authorities to check regular quality of food served in schools.
He has also demanded strict monitoring to prevent such incidents in future and to ensure that children get safe and nutritious food.
The district administration has also taken the matter seriously and has instructed the officials to strengthen the monitoring of the Mid-Day Meal (MDM) scheme.
-IANS
PSK/Ekde
