Govt ensuring health of JNV, Niangbari students

Staff Reporter

Shillong, Sept 19: Education Minister Rakkam A Sangma today said district school education officer (DSEO), Ri Bhoi has been asked to conduct regular monitoring and supervision on the JNV, school, Niangbari to ensure the incident of students falling sick is not repeated.

“The state education department has also taken serious note on the matter and has instructed the district school education officer, Ri Bhoi district to conduct regular monitoring and supervision on the said school and also to ensure that such incident is not repeated,” Sangma said while replying to a call attention motion moved by UDP MLA from Nongpoh Mayralborn Syiem in the Assembly.

He said the complaint of the residential students of the particular school has no connection with the PM Poshan (Mid-Day Meal) Scheme under the State of Meghalaya.

He informed after observing visuals that appeared on a news channel on July 26 that students of the school fell sick, immediately on July 27, the deputy commissioner deputed the Food Safety Officer, Ri Bhoi District, Nongpoh and a report submitted by FSO along with the executive magistrate to collect the samples of water and food for testing and conduct an enquiry on the matter.

Thereafter, the samples of water and food collected were sent to the state food testing laboratory, Pasteur Hills, Government of Meghalaya on the same day for analysis.

On August 2, the Food Safety Officer was again deputed to conduct a surprise checking inspection on the quality of food given to the students of JNV, Niangbari, during dinner time and to take samples of the same and get it tested and report has been submitted by FSO and food samples served to the students on that day were collected and sent to Mitra SK Private Limited, Building P-48, Udayan Industrial Estate, 3 PAgladanga Road, Kolkata West Bengal for analysis.

With regards to water supply, Sangma said a letter has been forwarded to the PHE department to prepare an estimate of a deep bore well construction at JNVSchool, Niangbari and the deposit work estimate for providing additional water supply at JNV School (proposed by drilling of bore well, construction of storage tank, pump house etc) amounting to Rs 33.86, 240 have been prepared and submitted by the EE PHE department and the same has been forwarded to Principal JNV, Niangbari for onward approval from the competent authority.

Based on the inquiry reports, the deputy commissioner also issued strict instructions to the school principal of JNV, Niangbari for compliance to ensure that only fresh and hygienic food is provided to the students.