The National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) has taken cognisance of a tragic food poisoning incident at a government-run residential school in Odisha’s Mayurbhanj district, which resulted in the death of a 12-year-old tribal girl and the hospitalisation of over 100 students.
The Commission has issued official notices to the Mayurbhanj District Collector, the Superintendent of Police, and the Secretary of the State ST & SC Development Department. The NCST has mandated that a comprehensive “Action Taken Report” (ATR) be submitted within seven days.
“The Commission, under the powers vested in it by the Constitution, has directed the authorities to submit full facts of the incident and preventive measures taken. Failure to comply may lead to the issuance of a summons and the invocation of civil court powers,” an official statement from the NCST noted.
The incident occurred on April 12 at the Kakabandh Ashram School in the Rasgovindpur block. According to reports, the students were served a meal of pakhala (fermented rice), aloo masala, and saag. Parents have alleged that the institution served stale, leftover food from the previous day, a direct violation of the school’s mandated menu.
After consuming the meal, a large number of students suffered from severe vomiting and diarrhoea. Rupali Besra, a Class 5 student, passed away on April 14 during treatment. While figures vary, it is estimated that between 100 and 140 students were affected, many of whom required emergency hospitalisation.
The tragedy has triggered widespread public outrage, leading to protests and confrontations between local tribal communities and law enforcement during the victim’s funeral procession.
In response to the public outcry, the Odisha government, under Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, has initiated a high-level investigation. The school’s head teacher, Jayant Kumar Panigrahi, has been suspended for gross negligence. Furthermore, the state government has announced an ex gratia payment of Rs 7 lakh to the family of the deceased student.
The intervention by the NCST underscores ongoing concerns regarding food safety and hygiene protocols within tribal residential institutions. Activists and local leaders are now calling for a complete restructuring of oversight mechanisms in hostel kitchens to prevent such “avoidable tragedies” from happening again.
