New Delhi, June 8 (Agency) The National Human Rights Commission ( NHRC) on Thursday said it has issued a notice to Bihar government over the reported illness of about 150 children after consuming mid-day meal at a school in West Champaran district. Taking suo motu cognizance of a media report that about 150 children fell ill reportedly after consuming mid-day meal at a government middle school in the Narval-Barval area on June 1, the Rights body has issued a notice to the Bihar Chief Secretary, calling for a detailed report in the matter within four weeks. The Commission said the report should include the steps taken or to be taken to ensure that this type of incident shall not recur in the future.
The Rights body said it would like to know whether the Government guidelines were being followed by the particular school, if not, then what action has been taken against the officers/officials responsible for the negligence. The Commission observed that the contents of the media report, if true, amount to the violation of the human rights of the children. According to the media report, carried on June 2, the students complained of vomiting and pain in their stomach after consuming the food after which they were taken to the hospital where the doctors opined that food poisoning was the reason for the illness of these students. The parents of the children reportedly protested against the school authorities.