Last year it was worms. This year it's rodents. The state's midday meal scheme hit a new low on Thursday when two dead rats were found in khichdi (porridge of rice and pulses) served at a Chembur civic school. Ironically, this scheme was part of the BMC's initiative to lure more children from low-income families to study in civic schools by ensuring a nutritious meal.
Last year it was worms. This year it's rodents. The state's midday meal scheme hit a new low on Thursday when two dead rats were found in khichdi (porridge of rice and pulses) served at a Chembur civic school. Ironically, this scheme was part of the BMC's initiative to lure more children from low-income families to study in civic schools by ensuring a nutritious meal.
Did any kids fall sick?
The mice were found in the plates of two students at the Chembur Naka MTS school during lunch break. According to sources, the students felt nauseated and threw up when they saw the rats on their plates, but are now stable.
Has any punitive action been taken?
Civic officials said that the civic education department has held Sumangal Mahila Sangathana, a women's self-help group, responsible for the incident, and has fined them Rs 5,000. It has asked the group to stop supplying midday meals to schools. However, it is yet to blacklist the organisation.
Does this group supply to other schools?
According to sources, this particular midday meal contractor (Sumangal group) supplies food to four other municipal schools located in the same building as the MTS school. However, contractors under different names also operate from the kitchen used by the Sumangal group to supply midday meals to 25 to 30 other schools in Chembur (West).
Where are midday meals cooked?
The kitchen of the Sumangal group is situation in a Chembur chawl. Most midday meals supplied to the city's municipal schools are prepared in the most unhygienic conditions by BMC-appointed women's self help groups. Yet they are being supplied year after year to municipal schools without a semblance of improvement.
How are these groups still operating unchecked?
Despite having defaulted so many times, a strong political backing protects these bachat gats (women's self-help groups that supply midday meals) from the rod. On several instances, these groups are never black-listed, despite the education department's recommendation. The BJP government is still sitting on a proposal of starting a centralised kitchen for preparation of quality midday meals, even though it directly affects the thousands of children from poor backgrounds.
Dr Richa Singh of the NGO Citizens Association of Child Rights, which works with municipal schools, said, "I am absolutely disgusted and shocked. The headmaster and a representative of the supplier has to taste the food half an hour before it is served to children. The norms are clearly not being followed."
What do the authorities have to say?
Education officer Shambhavi Jogi said, "We discontinued their services immediately, but to blacklist a contractor, we need the state government's nod." Additional municipal commissioner Pallavi Darade said, "I won't be to speak on this over phone." BMC education committee chairman Vinod Shelar was unavailable for comment.
Midday horrors
January 2015: 24 students (aged between 13 and 14) of Dayanand Balak Vidyalaya in Matunga suffered food poisoning after consuming khichdi served under the midday meal scheme. The children were rushed to Sion Hospital after they started vomiting and complained of stomach pain.
November 2014: a Std. 4 student of a Deonar municipal school had found worms in his plate.
November 2013: over 400 students of Anjuman Noorul Urdu High School at Saki Naka in Andheri (East) fell sick after they consumed cake as part of their midday meal
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