The National Human Rights Commission has taken suo motu cognizance of a media report that over 82 children fell ill after consuming kadi-chawal served to them as mid-day meal on the September 2, earlier this month in lucknow.
The children belongs to Primary Schools at Juggaur-1 and Juggaur-2 and Pre-Middle School at Juggaur, in Chinhat. Reports said that after consuming the meal, the children complained of stomach-ache and vomiting. They were initially taken to local health centre and, thereafter, admitted in lohia Hospital.
According to official communiqué of the NHRC released on Monday afternoon, the Commission has observed that the contents of the press report, if true, raise a serious issue of violation of human rights. Accordingly, it has issued notices to the Secretary, Primary Education Department, District Magistrate and Senior Superintendent of Police, lucknow calling for reports within two weeks.
According to the media report, when the children complained about smell in the food to the teacher they were asked to keep mum and finish their meal, which was supplied by an organisation - ‘Akshay Patra’. Reportedly, earlier on the July 29, 2015, about 80 students had fallen sick after consuming milk in a school in lucknow. The Commission has also asked the authorities to report the aspect of the guidelines issued and the mechanism in place for checking the quality of mid-day meal before it is served to the children in Government schools in the State. Action taken for negligence against the erring officials as well as the teacher who forced the children to consume the meal ignoring their complaints has also been sought from them.