Education Department forms 3-member panel

Tribune News Service

Panchkula, February 21

Taking cognisance of weevil-infested rice received by a student’s parent under the Mid-Day Meal ration scheme, the Education Department today formed a three-member committee and asked it to submit its report on Wednesday.

Earlier in the day, a team comprising of Sushil Kumar, Joint Director of the Education Department, Sanjeev Kumar of Mid-Day Meal scheme, and Nirupama, Deputy District Education Officer, visited Government Model Primary School in Sector 17 to take stock of the matter.

The team reportedly also inquired the school staff as well as the complainant about the matter. It also instructed the staff to stop distribution of “contaminated stock of dry ration”.

Nirupama, Deputy DEO, Panchkula, said: “The staff members generally ensure quality and cleanliness in dry ration while its distribution to parents under the Mid-Day Meal scheme. We will hold an inquiry into the matter to know what went wrong this time.”

The school administration received the dry ration on February 17 and a WhatsApp message for its collection was delivered in guardian/parents’ group the very next day.

On February 19, the school had begun distribution of the ration to parents.

On February 20, Narender, a parent from Rajiv Colony, whose children studies in the school, approached the school and submitted a complaint about weevils found in the ration. Not happy with the school response, Narender subsequently also filed a police complaint.