PANJIM: Education Department has appointed a new Self Help Group (SHG) – Mahila Utkarsh – on temporary basis to provide midday meals for Government Primary School at Alto-Betim after 16 students fell ill on consuming the meal provided to them.
Speaking to Herald, Education Director GP Bhat said, “We have suspended the previous SHG until further notice as investigations are on and the report from FDA is yet to arrive. Until this we have appointed a temporary SHG to provide midday meals to students of Government Primary School.”He added, “The department will shortly come out with a circular whereby heads of institutions shall conduct a surprise visit to the SHG where the meals are prepared and accordingly send us a report two times a month. We have taken these precautions and strict measures to keep a tab on the quality of the meal provided to the students.”
Bhat said that FDA had collected samples of the food for testing and the reports will be out soon. The tests shall be conducted on these samples as well as the food found on the plates of the students. “No inquiry will take place against officials from the Government High School at Alto Betim as, on our inquiry, officials found that the teachers at the school had tasted the meals and the meal was not found to be stale at the time of tasting. We have already received Rs 25 crore combined from the Centre as well as State governments for this academic year,” he added.
