Why stale food is dished out to students, asks Congress

In the Assembly on Monday for the sub-standard food dished out to the students under the midday meal scheme (MDM) and demanded that organisations should be selected for supplying food to the schools through open tender.

Raising the issue during zero hour, Leader of the Opposition Bhupinder Singh alleged that on March 6 when Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik was touring his Assembly constituency Hinjili, 86 primary school students of Sheragada block were taken ill after consuming midday meal.

Singh alleged that Nandi Foundation is supplying midday meal to the students in the district. The Leader of the Opposition said many students who were later admitted to the MKCG Medical, Berhampur, said they felt their head reeling after consuming the food.

Singh asked whether the food licence of Nandi Foundation has been renewed. Criticising the State Government for selecting the organisation to supply food to students in the home district of the Chief Minister without floating a tender, he said such organisations should be selected in a transparent manner.

 Singh wanted to know by whose recommendation Nandi Foundation was entrusted to supply food under the MDM and demanded that the Chief Minister should make everything clear in the House. He also alleged that five acres of land has been given to Nandi Foundation in Ganjam district.

 Deputy Government Chief Whip Sanjay Dasburma, however, rejected the charge of the Leader of the Opposition. Dasburma said  Nandi Foundation is also operating in Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh without any complaints.

Related Stories

No stories found.
The New Indian Express
www.newindianexpress.com