In the backdrop of students falling ill due to consumption of iron tablets in schools in Puri and Balangir districts, the State Health and Family Welfare (H&FW) and School and Mass Education(S&ME) Departments on Thursday jointly decided to train schoolteachers about the usage of the medicines.
“The incidents of students falling ill in Gopinathpur UGME School in Puri and Bharsuja Jemapali School in Agalpur block in Balangir district happened as the students consumed iron tablets in empty stomach though the tablets are usually taken after food. Hence, to avoid such mishaps in future, we are planning to train teachers,” said Health and Family Welfare Minister Damodar Rout.
S&ME Minister Rabi Narayan Nanda said master trainers would be assigned to train schoolteachers, adding that after getting the final report on the mishaps stringent action would be taken if anybody is found guilty.
Among others, H&FW Secretary Pradipta Kumar Mohapatra and S&ME Secretary Usha Padhee were present at the meeting.
Meanwhile, the All Odisha Primary School Teachers’ Association threatened not to take the charge of iron tablet distribution in schools.