NHRC issues notice to Delhi Govt. on reports of mid-day meal poisoning

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has issued a notice to the Delhi Government over reports of mid-day meal poisoning at the Sarvodaya Kanya Vidyalaya in Patparganj area of East Delhi.

The NHRC has taken a suo motu cognizance of a media report that 22 students, aged between 7 to 14 years, of the school had fallen ill after consuming mid-day meal. The Commission has observed that the contents of the press report, if true, raised a serious issue of violation of human rights.

It has issued a notice to the Chief Secretary, Government of NCT of Delhi calling for a detailed report within four weeks. It has also asked the East Delhi Commissioner of Police (DCP), to submit an action taken report in the matter.

Reportedly, the students had claimed to have found a dead rat in the food. The students were admitted to the Lal Bahadur Shastri Hospital in Khicharipur area.

The food was supplied by Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar Dalit Uthan Evam Shiksha Samiti. Allegedly, it had been blacklisted earlier but was again given the contract to supply the food.

The media also reported that incidents of mid-day meal poisoning had happened earlier also in some of the Delhi schools on July 26, July 31 and the November 8, 2013 respectively.