Bhubaneswar: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has sought a report from the Odisha government on the allegation of food poisoning in a Kanyashram in Balasore district in which a minor girl student died and over 25 others fell sick last month.
The Commission directed the secretary of school and mass education department and Balasore district collector and SP to submit an action taken report (ATR) within four weeks.
The NHRC’s order came after it heard a petition filed by human rights activist and lawyer Radhakanta Tripathy who alleged that the students, who live in Purubai Kanyashram at Soro in Balasore district, suffered immensely due to consumption of contaminated food.
The petitioner alleged that the students stay in unhygienic condition in the Kanyashram which had served low quality food to the inmates in mid-day meals. The incident happened on February 18. A Class IX student died while undergoing treatment in the hospital.
It was claimed that the failure of the state government to monitor food, water, sanitation and health of the poor minor girls of the school amounts to serious human rights violation. The negligence of the administration in registering FIR and taking legal and preventive measures amounts to violation of human rights of the minor girls studying in the school, the petition said.
The petitioner urged the NHRC to take legal action against the wrong doers and take preventive action for the future. He also requested the Commission to ensure heavy compensation to the next of kin of the deceased girl and to all others who suffered due to food poisoning and were admitted to hospitals.
