Kerala Food Commission Registers Suo Motu Case Over Poor Quality Mid-Day Meals At Thiruvananthapuram School

Thiruvananthapuram, October 13: The Keralam State Food Commission has taken the initiative to file a case against the officials responsible for serving substandard mid-day meals to students at a private aided school in Pothencode. The commission's decision came after receiving complaints from students about the unpleasant smell emanating from the rice being served as part of the mid-day meal.

In a statement released on Tuesday, the commission disclosed that Chairperson Dr Ginu Zacharia Oommen and Member Secretary Joshi Thomas had personally inspected the school in response to the reported issue. During their visit, the commission members engaged with the students and conducted a thorough examination of the school kitchen.

According to the commission, their findings revealed that the food grains were being stored in an unhygienic manner, leading them to issue an immediate directive to the school authorities to clean the kitchen and storeroom without delay. Oommen, the commission's Chairperson, emphasized that the panel had registered the case on its own accord following the discovery of the poor quality of the mid-day meal served at the school the previous day.

The commission's swift action highlights the growing concern over the quality of mid-day meals provided to students across Kerala, as the Bhopal Declaration continues to fuel nationwide demands for better rights and working conditions for Anganwadi workers, ASHA workers, and Midday Meal Workers.