Chhattisgarh ordered to pay Rs 25,000 to students given mid-day meal licked by dog

The Chhattisgarh High Court on Tuesday directed the state government to pay Rs 25,000 as compensation to each of the 84 students who were served a contaminated mid-day meal after a stray dog licked the food at a government school in Balodabazar-Bhatapara district.

The incident in Lachchhanpur village occurred on July 28 when food prepared by a self-help group under the mid-day meal scheme was reportedly soiled by a stray dog, prompting the court to take suo motu cognisance of the matter on August 4.

Students who saw the incident alerted teachers, who instructed the members of the self-help group not to serve the food, according to an inquiry report submitted to the court by the state. However, the warning was ignored, and the contaminated meal was distributed and consumed by the students, reported The Indian Express.

Following the incident, all 84 students were administered three doses of the anti-rabies vaccine as a precaution, the inquiry report stated. It also noted that the students were found to be medically fit and were kept under continuous observation by the primary health centre in Lachchhanpur.

The court was also informed that the self-help group responsible for preparing the meal had been removed from the mid-day meal scheme at the school and barred from receiving further government benefits.

Further, the court was told that several school staff, including the principal and some teachers, had been suspended.

However, the court held the state accountable for negligence and directed that the compensation be paid to the students within a month.

A division bench of Chief Justice Ramesh Sinha and Justice Bibhu Datta Guru observed that while the children had received medical attention, it was the state’s responsibility to ensure safe and hygienic meals in schools.

Earlier on August 4, the court had remarked: “Providing food to the students studying in the schools is not an empty formality and the same has to be done with dignity. A person, especially an innocent child, cannot be served any eatables which has been licked or soiled by a dog.”