The Odisha Human Rights Commission (OHRC) has directed the State Government to take stringent action against the concerned officials for their lapses thereby depriving Bonda students of midday meal (MDM) for two months in 2013 in Malkangiri.
The direction of the commission came recently after the School and Mass Education Department Commissioner-cum-Secretary submitted a report on the filed by Angul-based Human Rights Watch secretary Sangita Swain.
It was alleged that the Bonda students of Khairput High School were deprived of getting mid-day meal for two months.
The report of the Commissioner-cum-Secretary, revealed that Class-VIII students of Government SSD High School, Mudulipada were accommodated at Government (New) High School, Khairput without the knowledge of the District Nodal Officer, Malkangiri for which they were deprived of getting mid-day meal for the period from June 17 to September 20.
It was specifically alleged that such a thing could happen due to lack of proper coordination among the Headmasters of Government (New) High School, Kahirput, the Block Nodal Officer, Khairput and the Headmaster, Government SSD High School, Mudulipada.
The report of the Commissioner-cum-Secretary further revealed reported that draft charges have been framed against former Government (New) High School Headmaster Sitaram Swain and former Khairiput SI Phaguram Murmu.
“Such lapses should not be taken lightly as the students had to go without mid-day meals for a considerable period of time without any rhyme or reason. Thus, the Commission expects that stringent action should be taken against the officials responsible for depriving the students of the benefit of MDM and no excuses on this account should be entertained,” the commission directed.