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Centre clarifies ‘PM POSHAN’ scheme after lizard found in breakfast of Telangana students
A lizard was found in the breakfast served to students of a girls' hostel attached to a government school in Medak district of Telangana.
The Union government has taken serious note of the recent media reports about a lizard found in the breakfast served to students of a girls' hostel attached to a government school in the Medak district of Telangana, the ministry of education said on Thursday. The ministry clarified that the Telangana government provides breakfast under its own scheme and is not covered under the Centre's ‘PM POSHAN’ scheme.
“The State Government has also informed that they have taken serious action against the concerned officials,” it posted on X.
Reiterating that PM POSHAN Scheme provides hot cooked midday meals in schools, the ministry advised all the states and Union territories to take appropriate steps to ensure safety norms and provide properly cooked food for the students.
Read: PM Poshan scheme gets Centre nod, to subsume mid-day meal programme in schools
In a report submitted to higher officials, including the District Collector, the DEO stated that a student noticed the lizard in the upma, prompting the caretaker to stop the meal service and take 17 students who had eaten the dish to the health centre in Ramayampet mandal. Two students with stomach pain were shifted to the District Headquarters Hospital in Medak, while the remaining 15 were discharged from the health centre.
Later, 70 more students were taken for check-ups. All were observed for six hours for symptoms of food poisoning, but none were found.
"Except two students who were suffering with stomach pain, all the remaining 15 students were discharged from the hospital. Both the students have been shifted to the District Headquarters Hospital in Medak," the DEO said in the report.
A cook and an assistant cook were terminated for alleged negligence, and show cause notices were issued to the caretaker and the Special Officer of the Model School Girls' Hostel, according to the Medak District Educational Officer (DEO).
