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Revanth Reddy Pushes School Meals
CM Revanth Reddy Calls for Confidence-Building in Government Schools
Hyderabad: Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy on Friday, September 5, addressed a deeply concerning issue that has repeatedly surfaced in the state’s education sector — the rising number of food poisoning cases in government schools. Speaking at a public event, he expressed his distress at the plight of students who have been falling ill due to contaminated or poorly prepared food in school hostels and kitchens.
In his statement, the Chief Minister announced a unique initiative aimed at restoring public trust in government schools and the mid-day meal system. He appealed to all government school teachers to share meals with their students, emphasizing that this step would not only ensure accountability but also bring the teaching staff closer to the children.
“I myself will join students occasionally for meals to build confidence among parents and the community,” he said, adding that the state government is determined to ensure that children studying in public schools are provided safe, nutritious, and hygienic food.
Government vs. Private Schools: A Trust Deficit
The Chief Minister highlighted a stark contrast in enrollment between government and private schools in Telangana. According to his statement, 27,000 government schools in the state currently cater to 24 lakh students, while 11,000 private schools accommodate nearly 34 lakh students.
“These numbers reflect a lack of confidence in government schools,” Revanth Reddy admitted. “If more children are moving toward private institutions, it means our government schools have failed to inspire faith among parents and students. We must change this perception.”
The government aims to introduce multiple reforms in school infrastructure, meal safety, and teacher-student engagement to bridge this trust gap.
High Court’s Similar Stand on Mid-Day Meal Accountability
Interestingly, just two days earlier, on Wednesday, the Telangana High Court expressed similar views while hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) on the state of government schools. The PIL focused on inadequate facilities and violations of guidelines laid down by the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR).
The High Court bench strongly advised that teachers should eat meals with students to ensure better monitoring of food quality. The judges believed that if teachers consume the same meals as children, cases of negligence and food poisoning could be significantly reduced.
This judicial suggestion aligns directly with the Chief Minister’s recent call, making it clear that both the judiciary and the executive see shared accountability as a critical solution.
The Alarming Rise in Food Poisoning Cases
Over the last few years, Telangana has witnessed an unsettling increase in food poisoning cases in government schools, particularly in residential hostels run by the state. Reports have highlighted instances where students have been hospitalized, suffered severe health complications, and, in some tragic cases, even lost their lives.
Some of the major incidents include:
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Kumrambheem Asifabad Tragedy: In 2023, 16-year-old tribal student C. Shailaja died after eating dinner at a government-run tribal school hostel. Around 63 other students fell ill, suffering from vomiting and stomach pain. The case sparked outrage and demands for accountability.
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Nirmal District Outbreak: On December 10, dozens of students from a government school in Nirmal fell ill after consuming contaminated food. Many required hospitalization.
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Karimnagar Residential School Incident: Later in the same month, 23 students of the Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Residential School in Karimnagar were struck with food poisoning symptoms such as diarrhea, vomiting, and abdominal pain.
These recurring events have shaken public confidence in the safety standards maintained in government schools.
Challenges in Mid-Day Meal Implementation
The mid-day meal program, introduced across India to combat hunger and improve school attendance, has been plagued by issues in Telangana’s government institutions. The problems include:
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Poor Hygiene Practices: Inadequate sanitation in kitchens, lack of clean water, and improper storage of food items often lead to contamination.
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Untrained Staff: Many cooks and helpers are not properly trained in food safety standards.
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Low Quality Ingredients: Budgetary constraints and mismanagement sometimes result in the use of substandard grains, vegetables, and oils.
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Weak Monitoring: Lack of consistent supervision has allowed negligence to continue unchecked.
The Chief Minister’s proposal for teachers to eat with students is aimed at countering these shortcomings by instilling real-time accountability.
