Kotpad/Tumudibandh: Rotten and worm-infested eggs along with substandard rice were served Wednesday to the students of an upper primary school at Bondaguda under this block in Koraput district, a report said.
Besides, the rice was infested with rat feces and human hair, observed some teachers of the school.
The teachers drew the attention of the additional block education officer towards it and the latter informed his higher-ups, it was learnt.
Though such incidents have become a regular affair in the schools of remote areas, the authorities don’t bother to take action which has triggered resentment among the guardians.
According to reports, an agency has been awarded the tender to serve mid-day meals (MDM) to more than 1,500 students of 19 schools under Kotpad block.
However, no officials have been appointed to monitor the quality of food. The programme is managed by the owner of the agency and some of his employees. The agency has set up a mega kitchen at Randapali near Jeypore to prepare MDM for the students which are sent to the schools in small vehicles.
The agency allegedly doesn’t maintain proper hygiene during preparation of the food at the kitchen which is why such substandard meals are served to the students, said locals.
Meanwhile, a report from Tumudibandh in Kandhamal district said at least 35 students of Benarbahal Colony Upgraded Upper Primary School were taken ill after consuming MDM Wednesday.
The students experienced nausea and stomachache after consuming eggs served in MDM. The students were rescued by headmaster Dinesh Kumar Nayak who admitted them to the local community health centre (CHC). The condition of the students was stated to be normal after treatment.
Meanwhile, the students alleged that they were served rotten eggs. On the other hand, the cook claimed that she had checked on the eggs before boiling them and they were not rotten. Irate guardians demanded a probe into the matter and action against those found guilty.
On learning the incident, Tumudibandh panchayat samiti member Prakash Chandra Patra, MLA Rajeev Patra, tehsildar and sarpanch visited the CHC and enquired on the health condition of the students. PNN