Recurring food poisoning incidents worry parents in Mancherial

Repeated food poisoning incidents in government‑run hostels of Mancherial district have left parents and students anxious, with allegations of negligence by wardens and lack of accountability among officials despite assurances of hygienic food supply.

Mancherial: Even as district authorities claim that measures are being taken to ensure supply of hygienic food, various government-run hostels continue to witness food poisoning incidents at regular intervals in Mancherial district.

In the latest incident, 21 students were hospitalised after having dinner at Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Residential School (Girls), Bellampalli on Wednesday night. Earlier, 16 girl students fell ill when they had food at Telangana Social Welfare Residential School in the same town in February.

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The recurrence of food poisoning has left both students and parents worried.

Students, on the condition of anonymity, alleged that wardens were showing negligence in administering hostels, resulting in the food poisoning. They charged that the ingredients such as rice, lentils, vegetables, etc., used in cooking dishes were not being thoroughly checked, leading to food poisoning.

Parents expressed concern over instances of food poisoning happening frequently in the district. They got their children admitted to educational institutions with faith in the government, but the hostels were not living up to their expectations. They opined that recurrence of food poisoning would affect studies of their wards.

Sources said wardens provide quality food to students only when officials inspect the educational institutions. The officials ensure hygiene in kitchens and quality of groceries whenever the instances attract media glare.

Sources said action was not being taken against officials responsible as bribes are paid. The wardens also enjoy political support.

Officials said that steps were being taken to provide quality food to students. Nearly 23,000 students study in 102 hostel-attached schools and colleges run by the government. Twenty five hostels were meant for SC students, while 18 were allocated to BC pupils. The district has 18 Ashram schools operated by the tribal welfare department and 18 Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas.

 

Minority hostels: 4

Students: 1,114
MJPRS hostels: 8

Students: 4,010
Social Welfare Residential Schools/Colleges: 9

Students: 5,017
SC Pre, Post-metric hostel: 25

Students: 2,282
BC Pre, Post-metric hostel: 18

Students: 1,420
Ashram Schools (for STs): 16

Students: 2,600
KGBVs: 18

Students: 6,000
Model Schools: 4

Students: 400
Total educational institutions: 102

Total inmates: 22,843