Daijiworld Media Network – Sullia (SP)

Sullia, Oct 1: Concerned over the second incident of children suffering from symptoms of food poisoning en masse within a week, Puttur assistant commissioner (AC), Dr Harish Kumar, presided over a meeting of Akshara Dasoha scheme officials here on Thursday September 30. On September 22, several children of Volalu government school had complained of stomach ache and vomitted, while on September 29, over 30 students and a teacher of Kalmadka higher primary school had vomitted and were treated, after consuming midday meals under the Akshara Dasoha programme.

The AC, who sought full details of the episode that occurred in Kalmadka school, said that henceforth, the respective block education officers and Akshara Dasoha officials would be held responsible for such incidents.

Block education officer, Malleswamy, explained he had looked into the case, and found that two students had attended school in spite of being not well, as mid-term examinations were going on. He also revealed that the teacher, who had also vomitted, was sick before coming to the school. “As their digestive organs could not handle midday meals, they vomitted. The other children, who were witness to this development, panicked and became victims of mass hysteria,” he reasoned.

The AC asked the teachers and others to immediately take steps to instil confidence and courage in the other students whenever one or two students suffer from indigestion, to avoid the situation turning into mass hysteria, instead of rushing to hospitals immediately. He also asked the concerned to reject substandard goods, if delivered by the department, to ensure that safety of the children is given paramount importance.

Tahsildar, Giriappa, taluk health officer, Dr Subrahmanya, Akshara Dasoha assistant director, Devaraj Mutlaje, child development programme officer, Shobharani, and several other officials, along with school authorities, assistant cooks under the programme, chief officer of the local town panchayat, and local people, attended the meeting.