The National Human Rights Commission has taken suo motu cognizance of media reports that in Government Boys Senior Secondary School, Deoli, New Delhi a dead rat was found in the mid-day meal served to the children on 16th February, 2017. Nine of them had to be rushed to a nearby hospital.
The Commission has observed that occurrence of such an incident, if true, amounts to violation of Right to Life of the children. It indicates towards serious lapse on part of the concerned agencies. Accordingly, it has issued a notice to the Chief Secretary, Government of NCT of Delhi, calling for a detailed report in the matter within four weeks including the action taken against the concerned agencies. He has also been asked to inform about the steps taken to ensure that such incidents do not happen in future.
Reportedly, there are 43 NGOs, which are catering to the requirement of mid-day meal to 18.46 lakhs children of the schools run by the Delhi Government. They, allegedly, sublet their contracts to other organizations. In another report, carried on 27th February, 2017, 95% of 365 meal samples failed to meet nutritional requirements in 2011-12 and 98% of 322 samples failed the tests in 2010-11.
National Human Rights Commission