NHRC seeks report on students falling ill after consuming mid-day meal at Nalanda school
New Delhi, May 26
The National Human Rights Commission has taken suo motu cognisance of a media report that around 60 students fell ill after consuming a mid-day meal at a government-run school in Bihar's Nalanda district.
Observing that the contents of the news report, if true, raise a serious issue of violation of human rights of the students, the apex human rights body has issued a notice to the Nalanda District Magistrate, seeking a detailed report within two weeks.
According to the media report, the incident occurred on May 21, when students of the government school allegedly complained of vomiting, stomach ache, nausea and loose motion after consuming the mid-day meal. The affected students were admitted to different nearby hospitals for treatment.
Reportedly, the meal was served to the students without first being tasted by teachers, as mandated under the prescribed safety protocol. After several students fell ill, a teacher consumed the food and also fell sick, necessitating hospitalisation.
The latest incident has once again raised concerns over food safety and hygiene standards in government schools under the mid-day meal scheme in Bihar.
Earlier, in February 2025, at least 60 students at Shri Chandpur Primary School in Nalanda's Harnaut block had fallen ill after consuming a mid-day meal, with many complaining of stomach ache and vomiting.
In another incident reported in May this year, over 250 children fell ill after consuming a mid-day meal at a government school in Saharsa district. The children complained of stomach pain, vomiting and dizziness, prompting their admission to local health facilities.
Officials later said that all affected students were stable, while an investigation was launched to ascertain the cause of the suspected food poisoning.
Established under the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993, the NHRC, an autonomous statutory body, embodies India's concern for the promotion and protection of human rights. Its primary role is to protect and promote human rights, defined as the rights relating to life, liberty, equality, and the dignity of individuals, guaranteed by the Constitution or embodied in international covenants, and enforceable by courts in India.
The apex human rights body has the power to take suo motu (on its own motion) action based on media reports, public knowledge, or other sources, without receiving a formal complaint of human rights violations.
— IANS
Reader Comments
As someone who volunteers in rural schools, I can tell you food safety is a systemic issue. The cooks are often untrained and use local water sources. Just last month in Saharsa, 250 kids fell sick. The government needs to invest in clean kitchens and regular health checks. NHRC is doing its job, but prevention is better than cure. We owe these children better.
This is the third incident in Bihar this year alone. The teachers not tasting the food is criminal negligence. But let's not just blame them—the district administration must ensure regular inspections and quality checks. The NHRC notice is a good step, but I hope it leads to real action, not just a report filed away. Bachchon ki jaan se khelna theek nahi hai.
I have mixed feelings. On one hand, the mid-day meal scheme has increased school attendance significantly. On the other hand, repeated food poisoning incidents show poor implementation. The solution isn't to scrap the scheme, but to empower local committees, ensure proper storage, and make tasting mandatory. Two weeks for a report is too slow—these kids need justice now.
It's 2025, and we still have children falling sick from school meals. This is not just a human rights violation but a failure of governance. The NHRC must ensure the district magistrate's report includes actionable steps—like installing CCTV in kitchens, regular health checkups, and penalties for non-compliance. Every child deserves safe food, full stop.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.