Dozens of students from government schools and hostels were hospitalized, and one of them died in a series of food poisoning incidents over a month in Telangana, raising concerns over the meals served at these institutions. We must remember that every life is precious, and students from disadvantaged sections of society come to government schools and hostels. Their parents send them with high hopes of securing a better future. When a child’s life is lost, as happened at a hostel in Asifabad, we simply cannot turn a blind eye. Close on the heels of this, two instances of food poisoning occurred within a week at a high school in Maganoor.
Hearing a public interest plea on the issue, the High Court castigated the officials and sought a report by Monday. It rightly observed that the incidents reflect official negligence. The state government has constituted a committee to ascertain the reason for so many such incidents occurring at about the same time and has decided to form panels in every institution to ensure the quality of the food served to students.
Some action has also been taken against officials and contract staff involved. Nonetheless, claims by top district officials that the students suffered not because of substandard institutional food, but because they bought snacks outside, only reinforce the court’s observation. They need to find a solution instead of seeking to save their own skin.
Food poisoning has been a recurring problem in government-run schools and hostels for years. If 42 incidents were reported this year, as the government has said, it can safely be assumed that many more cases have occurred in previous years, irrespective of the party in power. In our view, this only goes to show that there is a systemic problem.
Clearly, officials or workers at the lower rungs are not paying the attention required. For instance, as reported in this newspaper, several students had complained of worms in cooked rice. The government needs to overhaul the entire supply chain, from the point of purchasing ingredients to putting meals on the plate in every school and hostel. It should put in place a mechanism to inculcate a culture of cleanliness and honesty, as children’s lives are at stake. Politicizing the issue, as is being done by both sides, will serve no purpose.