High Court Directs ₹25,000 Compensation for Students Served Dog-Tainted Food

Quick Summary:

• The Chhattisgarh High Court has ordered the State government to compensate students after they consumed a contaminated midday meal on July 28.
• Each affected child from a government middle school in Lacchanpur, Balodabazar-Bhatapara district, will receive ₹25,000 within one month of the August 17 court order.
• A dog reportedly ate from the midday meal prepared by a self-help group at the school.Despite complaints of contamination, school authorities did not remove the food and served it to children.
• When the incident surfaced, health precautions including anti-rabies vaccines were provided to 84 children who consumed the meal.
• Earlier, government representatives argued that compensation was unnecessary because medical checkups confirmed no ill effects among the students.

Indian Opinion Analysis:

This ruling highlights two critical aspects-the accountability of entities providing services related to public welfare and systemic oversight failures in ensuring quality standards in crucial programs like midday meals. The court’s decision underlines negligence in safeguarding children’s health despite visible signs of contamination and valid complaints by stakeholders. Though swift governance of vaccines limited additional risks, long-term trust in such programs might be impacted unless preventive measures are prioritized.

The mandated financial compensation sends a strong message about public sector responsibility but also raises questions around procedural enforcement mechanisms already in place for quality control by schools and associated organizations such as self-help groups (SHGs). This case may prompt policy reviews across states regarding hygiene protocols and immunity measures underlying national schemes like mid-day meals.

Read More: The Hindu