Officials Dismiss Food Poisoning Incidents, Say Girls Are “Acting Up”

Hyderabad: A day after 30 girl students were admitted to hospital for food poisoning, health and education officials dismissed the complaint over the quality of food as a “'psychological issue' and that the hostel inmates were simply 'acting up'.

“All patients were girls,” emphasised the medical superintendent of the area hospital.

However, reports indicate that similar incidents have occurred in boys’ schools as well. A Class 6 student from a Social Welfare school in Bhuvanagiri passed away last year.

Lost in the cacophony is a basic issue: lack of proper infrastructure and maintenance.

“Our Gurukul runs from a crumbling, rented building that once housed a college over 10 years ago. There’s a permanent stench right from the school gate due to lack of repairs and sanitation,” said a teacher from a girls’ Gurukul in Suryapet, Nalgonda.

“Until last week, we had to make do with heavily chlorinated water — only now have we received a basic water filter after years of appeals. On top of that, our daily schedule keeps changing without notice, forcing both students and teachers into confusion. All of this reflects the poor management of residential schools in the region.”

Macha Narsaiah, president of the Progressive Parents Residential School Association, who had just returned from a school in Suryapet where a Class 10 student died by suicide on Tuesday, alleged that the girl was troubled by these very issues.

“After speaking to the parents, teachers, and students, I found that she had been constantly raising concerns about the quality of food, lack of sanitation, absence of proper classrooms, and other infrastructural issues. The teachers did not pay heed to her concerns. Instead, she was told that if she was used to a better environment, she should not be availing subsidised education,” he told Deccan Chronicle.

He explained that harassment by schoolteachers and management is a regular affair in residential schools.

He added that parent-teacher meetings, which allow parents to raise their grievances, are not held regularly. “In the few schools where they are held, the principal interacts for just five minutes and leaves. Parents are not able to meet the teachers either,” he added.

While parents send their children to these schools hoping that education will improve their lives, the reality often brings setbacks.

“These schools are in high demand as parents hope for better education for their children. But they later realise that there are no basic infrastructural facilities, no clean washrooms, no purified drinking water, and no properly cooked food. If the parents complain, the schoolteachers and management take revenge against their children and bully them. Hence, the parents choose to remain silent so that their children do not suffer,” said Prakash Dhanusri, secretary, Child Rights Protection Force.

While officials maintain that timely inspections of food quality and hygiene are conducted, parents and child rights activists claim there is no way to verify this, as schools do not allow them to enter the premises. “The schools put on a show on the days when parents visit. The food is good, the washrooms are clean, and the teachers are present — but on other days, students suffer,” said Dhanusri.

He added that teachers and school management extract money from parents under the pretext of social events. “All ministerial visits are funded by parents, as everything from banners to pamphlets is paid for with their money,” he said.

Macha Narsaiah said school authorities often ignore complaints from girls. “They would complain of stomach aches, and teachers would assume they were faking it to avoid classes. One student is ignored, the illness spreads, and when it escalates, the school authorities claim the girls are being ‘hysterical’,” he said.

“Delayed payments to contractors not only compromise the quality of food served but also create undue pressure on principals to somehow feed the children. When health complaints arise, the lack of proper medical facilities and trained counsellors only worsens the situation. Add to this, the insensitivity of some staff members and the fact that many children are homesick and missing home food — what we’re seeing is serious neglect of both emotional and physical well-being,” said Venkat Reddy, national convener, MV Foundation.

“The Food Safety Officer visits only when a complaint is raised. Inspection teams come just two or three times a year, depending on the situation,” said a teacher from a minority welfare school.

“There is absolutely no monitoring on the part of officials. While the food safety department frequently inspects hotels and commercial establishments in the city, it rarely shows up in educational institutions,” said E. Raghunandan, state general secretary, Balalu Hakkalu Sankshema Sangam (BHSS). “In contrast, the AP Food Safety Department is actually posting videos on YouTube to educate people about food safety and quality in schools,” he added.