Bilaspur: In BJP-ruled Chhattisgarh, a school served students mid-day meals with the knowledge that the food was contaminated by a stray dog. In the horrifying incident, 84 students had the food, and the authorities of the school in Balodabazar district gave 78 students anti-rabies vaccine after.
The incident took place on July 29 at a government school in Lachhanpur, where students had informed the teachers about a stray dog licking a food item meant to be served. However, the cooks there ignored teachers’ warnings, served the students’ food, and vaccinated the students as a precautionary measure.
The students informed their parents about the incident, which came to light after parents and local residents protested at the school, demanding the dismissal of the cooks who ignored the instructions not to serve contaminated food.
Meanwhile, the officer in charge of the Lachanpur health centre claimed that the anti-rabies vaccine was given as a precautionary measure, not because the infection was confirmed. He said that the first doses of the vaccine could not have side effects, and the vaccination was done at the demand of the villagers, parents, and school management committee members.
On Saturday, Sub-Divisional Magistrate Deepak Nikunj, Block Education Officer Naresh Verma and other officials visited the school and started an investigation. Statements of children, parents, teachers and school management committee members have been recorded. However, SHG members did not participate in the investigation.
Meanwhile, MLA Sandeep Sahu wrote a letter to the Chief Minister demanding an investigation into the incident and action against those involved in the crime. He also demanded to know whose instructions the children were given for anti-rabies vaccinations. The investigation into the incident is progressing, it is learnt.