PONDA: Worms were found in mid-day meals supplied to two government primary schools at Keri and Savoiverem in Ponda taluka during inspection.
Three self-help groups (SHGs) are supplying food to these schools. The soya chunks in the pulao given to students were found having worms. Students were immediately asked by the school authorities to refrain from consuming the pulao.
The Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) inspectors along with the Ponda ADEI Amita Talaulikar visited these schools and collected samples of the mid-day meals for investigations.
The team also inspected the kitchens of the self-help groups at Mangeshi and is learnt to have asked for a report from the SHG members.
On hearing the news, the panicked parents rushed to the schools and made inquiries with the students and teachers. They also inspected the worm infested meals and criticised the self-help, school authorities and the government. The agitated parents demanded a probe into the quality of raw material used for preparing mid-day meals.
According to the students and parents, Tuesday was the first day when the mid-day suppliers introduced soya chunks in their menu. The Mangueshi-based SHG is providing mid-day meals to as many as 40 schools mostly from Ponda taluka.
The SHG members had purchased soya chunks from a shop situated at Mardol and there are reports that worms were in the soya chunks sold by the shopkeeper.
Following the incident in two schools, the authorities as a precaution checked mid-day meals supplied to other schools situated in the near vicinity.
The Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) members of various schools raised their apprehensions.
They demanded to know who would be held responsible if the health of their children is affected due to supply of worm infected meals.
One parent said the government should ensure that quality mid-day meals are supplied to school children. She said that the government authorities should check the quality of rice and other food material procured by the SHGs.
Meanwhile, the Directorate of Education has initiated an inquiry into the incident. Appropriate action will be initiated after receiving the reports, informed officials of the Directorate of Education.
