Bhubaneswar, Sep 12 : The National Human Rights Commission ( NHRC) has issued summons to the district magistrate of Khordha and Balasore to appear in person or their authorized representatives on October 16 in connection with the incidents of students falling sick after taking mid day meals.
The summons to the DM, Khurda and DM, Balasore were issued u/s 13 of the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993, to appear in person or through their authorized representatives who are competent to depose in the matter, before the Commission along with the requisite report.
The Commission however ordered that in case the requisite report is received in the Commission on or before October 9 ,their personal appearance shall stand dispensed with.
Human Rights defender Rabindra Mishra had brought to the notice of the Commission that two recent incidents happened in Khurda and Balasore Districts of Odisha, where many students fell ill after eating mid-day meals. The parents demanded a high level enquiry into the incident.
The Commission took cognizance of the matter on March 22 last and directed to issue notice to the DM, Khurda and DM, Balasore, Odisha, calling upon them to submit an Action Taken Report within 4 weeks.
However, no report has been received from the DM, Khurda and DM, Balasore, Odisha, so far, despite directions on March 22 and a reminder on May 15last . The Commission took it seriously and directed the Registry to issue summons to the DM, Khurda and DM, Balasore.
In his complaint Mishra stated eleven students of Tangi Girls High School in Khordha district had fallen ill after eating lunch and all of them were admitted to Tangi Medical Centre.
Similarly,more than 15 students feel sick after consuming mid-day meals at a school in Balasore district on Saturday.
The incident came to light when several students of Barkhuri ME School under Soro NAC in the district complained of headache and stomach pain soon after they had taken the mid-day meals at the school.
The incident triggered panic among the parents and locals. The family members of the victims demanded a high level enquiry into incident and sought action against those found guilty.
Mishra stated that earlier also many such incidents had happened in 2022 where many students from various districts of Odisha feel sickness after eating mid day meals (MDM).
He said the Right to Food is coming under Right to Life, So it is strongly violating human rights and requested the NHRC to take this matter seriously as it violates human rights and rights of students and issue strict instructions to the State, and District administration and school authorities.
The concerned authority, Mishra said, should first test the meal and then serve it to the students.
