NHRC issues notice to Delhi govt

Taking suo moto cognisance of media reports that 22 students of a government school took ill after allegedly consuming mid-day meal, National Human Rights Commission today issued a notice to Delhi government and sought a report on the matter.
The NHRC has issued a notice to the Chief Secretary, Government of NCT of Delhi calling for a detailed report within four weeks. It has also asked the DCP (East), Delhi to submit an action taken report in the matter, the Commission said in a statement.
The notice was issued after the Commission took suo motu cognizance of media reports that 22 students, aged between 7 to 14 years, of Sarvodaya Kanya Vidyalaya, Patparganj area of East Delhi had fallen ill after consuming mid-day meal.

"Reportedly the students had claimed to have found a dead rat in the food. The students were admitted to Lal Bahadur Shastri Hospital in Khichripur. The food was supplied by Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar Dalit Uthan Evam Shiksha Samiti. Allegedly, it had been blacklisted earlier but was again given the contract to supply the food," the statement said.
The media also reported that incidents of mid-day meal poisoning had happened earlier also in some of Delhi schools on July 26, July 31 and November 8, 2013 respectively.
The Commission said the contents of the press report, if true, raise a serious issue of violation of human rights.