Delhi deputy CM orders cooking of mid-day meals to be monitored

NEW DELHI: Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia on Friday directed the Chief Secretary to monitor cooking of mid-day meals served in Delhi schools after a dead rat was found in the food due to which nine children were taken ill.

Police has also lodged an FIR against two operators of an NGO who supplied mid-day meals to Government Boys Senior Secondary School in Deoli.

"I have ordered the Chief Secretary that all senior officers, including secretaries and principal secretaries will inspect kitchens based on my parameters and give me report within one week, similarly all kitchens in Delhi will regularly be inspected," Sisodia told reporters.

"In the morning today, I had sent my officers to this kitchen at 4.30 AM to take stock of the situation there," he added.

Nine students at the government school were yesterday rushed to Madan Mohan Malviya hospital after they were taken ill after consuming the rat-contaminated food.

Sisodia, who is also the Education Minister, had visited the students at the hospital yesterday.

According to police officials, an FIR has been registered against operators of Jan Chetna Jagriti Evam Shaikshik Vikas Manch, K P Singh and Sanjay Malik, under Sections 273 (sale of noxious food or drink) and 336 (act endangering life or personal safety of others) on the complaint of school principal Girirraj Singh Sharma.

"We have sent the food samples for test and are awaiting medical reports of the affected children to move forward. Further sections could be added and more people may be booked if needed. No one has been arrested so far," a senior police official said.

"The school principal also alleged that Malik and his associates who were present at the school ran away carrying the remaining food," he added.

Asked about the allegation of kitchens being operated by a relative of an MLA, Sisodia said, "We will not spare anyone who plays with the lives of students, even if he or she is the relative of MLA, minister and even PM".

"We will ensure strict action against the vendor. We will not tolerate those who play with the lives of students. We will teach them such a lesson that no one in future can do it again," he added.