BMC issues show cause notice to Saki Naka school

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s education department has sent a show cause notice to the Anjuman Noor-ul-Islam School authorities in Saki Naka following the midday meal tragedy on Monday. More than 400 students took ill after eating a mango-flavoured cake given to them as part of the midday meal.

“As the school wasn’t following the prescribed rules, we have sent a show cause notice to its authorities. They had to keep a check on the quality of the product being supplied and inform the civic authorities. They have failed to do so,” said Ravindra Bhise, BMC education officer.

Bhise said the school was giving students items which were not part of those allowed under the scheme. As per rules, the dry snacks to be provided along with the khichdi can be soya biscuits, chikki, jaggery, fruits, peanuts, rice flakes, rajgira laddoos and raisins among others.

While Bhise said the BMC has not given the school a deadline for its reply but expect an answer at the earliest, an official from the BMC midday meal department said the school’s trustees will be given a maximum of 48 hours to reply after which further course of action will be decided.

The school’s principal, NM Malik, confirmed receipt of the notice. Malik had earlier said the school had asked self-help group Parivartan Mahila Mandal to provide only packed or dry snacks as the possibility of contamination in khichdi was higher.