Protests over Death

DEATHS\\ Around 21 children who ate their midday meal at Dharamsati Primary School, Masrakh, in Bihar’s Saran district died overnight. Ten more children were left battling for their lives. Amarjeet Singh, Principal Secretary of education, confirmed that the final toll was around 22, and said he suspected the deaths occurred by organo phosphorous poisoning caused by traces of insecticides. Ten children died immediately after eating the meal, later, 11 more succumbed to the meal poisoning while 60 more fell ill. Over two dozen sick children were brought to Patna Medical College and Hospital after their condition deteriorated. “Ten children are still critical,” a hospital official said. Hundreds of people have been protesting the deaths since July 19, 2013, demanding strict action against government officials responsible for the tragedy. Twenty dead children were buried near the school. A case has been registered against the school’s headmistress Meena Devi and other teachers. Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar expressed shock over the incident and announced a compensation of `2 lakh to the kin of each of the dead. The deaths triggered a political row with the Bharatiya Janata Party calling Nitish Kumar “insensitive”. “The chief minister of Bihar instead of showing promptness in evacuating the children to a better medical facility has announced a ex gratia amount of `2 lakh for those who died. This showcases the insensitivity and the callous attitude,” said BJP spokesperson Rajiv Pratap Rudy. In Bihar, widespread corruption is reported in the midday meal scheme, and government guidelines on food quality are often ignored. In the past, dead lizards, frogs, insects and a rat were found in food cooked for the midday meal at schools.