A disturbing video revealing worms in the food served for the midday meal scheme at a private aided primary school in Old Ningapur, Koppal taluk, has triggered widespread alarm over child safety and systemic negligence. The incident has exposed glaring lapses in the quality control of meals provided to lakhs of schoolchildren across the district.
Systemic Negligence and Parental Outrage
School authorities suggested that the contaminated rice, supplied by the government's Akshara Dasoha program, might have been stored for an excessively long period before cooking. This explanation has done little to placate furious parents and students, who are now questioning the very safety of the meals meant to nourish their children.
Allegations are flying thick and fast against both the ration suppliers and the school management for turning a blind eye to basic food hygiene. Parents have complained that the staff entrusted with checking the quality of staples like rice and dal failed utterly in their duty.
A Recurring District-Wide Problem
This is not an isolated case in Koppal district. Shockingly, similar incidents have been reported from various government schools in recent times. Just last week, worms were discovered in the rice served at a government primary school in Bisaralli village. Another school in Muddenahalli, Kushtagi taluk, faced an identical issue, posing a severe health risk to young children.
Officials admit that despite repeated complaints being lodged with higher authorities, no concrete action has been taken to address this persistent problem. This inaction is particularly alarming given the scale of the scheme: 2.8 lakh children in Koppal district alone rely on these daily meals.
Allegations of Corruption and Collusion
The scandal deepens with serious accusations of corruption. Parents and committee members suspect that School Development and Monitoring Committees (SDMC) might be involved in purchasing substandard foodgrains and siphoning off funds. An anonymous official from Akshara Dasoha hinted at a deeper malaise, stating, "There appears to be a connection between private contractors and senior officials in our department and related departments, which may have resulted in the supply of poor-quality rice and dal."
Echoing this, Hanumanthappa Hatti, president of an SDMC, accused Akshara Dasoha officials of colluding with suppliers. "They provide substandard rations to the schools while charging for higher quality," he alleged. A teacher from a Koppal city government school revealed that ration supplies had been halted for three months, and the existing stock was already worm-infested. Complaints to Akshara Dasoha officers, he lamented, have gone unanswered.
Official Response and Legal Action
In the wake of the viral video, the Karnataka State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (KSCPCR) has taken suo motu cognizance of the case. Commission chairman Shashidhar Kosambe confirmed that notices have been issued to the Deputy Director of Public Instruction (DDPI) and the assistant director of Akshara Dasoha, demanding an explanation. They have also been instructed to personally visit the affected school and submit a detailed report to the commission.
Meanwhile, attempts to get a response from senior officials of the public education department proved futile, as they did not respond to calls. Parents are now demanding immediate and thorough inspections of meal preparation in all government schools across the district to prevent further endangerment of children's health.
