In a disturbing development, around 70 schoolchildren in Bihar’s Madhepura were admitted to hospital after falling violently ill from their mid-day meal. The episode at Karu Tola’s advanced middle school in Sahugarh block exposed glaring vulnerabilities in the nation’s school feeding system.
Symptoms struck swiftly post-lunch: excruciating belly aches, repeated retching, spinning sensations, agitation, and heart-pounding fear. Teachers struggled to manage the outbreak amid growing hysteria. Swift action by locals and staff got the children to Sadar Hospital, where physicians reported most recoveries, save for one critically ill student.
Suspicions center on a lizard discovered in the contaminated batch, sourced via an NGO for the central scheme. Lab tests on remnants are underway to pinpoint toxins or pathogens. On-site, DEO Sanjay Kumar inspected facilities and declared an all-out inquiry.
‘Any lapse by the NGO or school staff will invite severe penalties,’ he affirmed, addressing irate guardians who blockaded hospital gates in protest. Their grievances highlight chronic issues: subpar supervision, lax sanitation, and inadequate quality checks plaguing mid-day meals across states.
As Bihar grapples with this scandal, calls intensify for digital tracking of supplies, mandatory CCTV in kitchens, and harsher punishments for violators. The incident serves as a grim reminder that children’s health cannot be compromised in pursuit of nutritional targets. Comprehensive audits and parental involvement committees could be the need of the hour to safeguard the vulnerable.