The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has launched an inquiry into a deeply troubling incident in Bihar’s Patna district, where over a hundred schoolchildren reportedly fell ill after consuming a mid-day meal at a government-run school in Mokama on April 24. The incident came to light after reports suggested that a cook had allegedly served the food even after discovering a dead snake in it.
The alarming episode has led the NHRC to take suo motu cognisance, citing serious concerns over potential human rights violations. Notices have been dispatched to the Chief Secretary of Bihar and the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Patna, demanding a thorough report within 14 days. The Commission emphasised that the report must detail the health condition of the affected children and explain how such a lapse in food safety occurred.
According to reports published on April 25, approximately 500 students had eaten the contaminated meal before the matter came to public attention. Following the mass illness, angered villagers staged a protest by blocking the local roads, demanding accountability and better safety measures in school meal programs.
NHRC’s Stance on the Incident
In a statement released Thursday, the NHRC noted that if the reported details prove accurate, they reflect a blatant disregard for child welfare and safety. The Commission expressed grave concern over the state’s failure to ensure hygienic and safe food under government-run welfare schemes like the mid-day meal programme.
Meanwhile, similar food safety concerns have emerged from Odisha, where students from two separate districts fell sick after consuming mid-day meals. In Sundargarh’s Bisra block, thirty children from Udusu Primary School were hospitalised at the local Community Health Centre. Four students exhibiting signs of food poisoning were kept under observation, while the rest were discharged after receiving medical attention. Authorities collected food and water samples for laboratory testing.
Similar Case Came to Light Few Days Ago
Another case was reported from Rivelkana village in Rayagada district, where four Class IX students at a government Sevashram fainted during school hours after eating the meal. While initial concerns pointed to possible food poisoning, the school matron, Chanchala Sahu, later clarified that only one of the girls had a medical condition—epilepsy—and the others collapsed in reaction to witnessing the seizure. Doctors confirmed the episode was not food-related, and all students were sent home by evening.
The Bihar incident, however, remains a critical concern for the NHRC, which underlined the urgency of reviewing hygiene standards and monitoring procedures in schools. The Commission stated that every child has a fundamental right to health and safety, and such negligence not only breaches trust but endangers young lives.
