NCST notice to Odisha Govt over tribal girl’s death, mass food poisoning

The National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) has issued notices to Mayurbhanj District Collector, Superintendent of Police, and the Secretary of the State ST & SC Development Department in connection with the tragic death of a 12-year-old tribal girl and the hospitalisation of over 100 students following a mass food poisoning at a government-run residential school earlier this month. The NCST has demanded a detailed Action Taken Report (ATR) 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 stated. The tragic incident took place on April 12 at the Kakabandh Ashram School in the Rasgovindpur block where students reportedly fell ill after consuming a meal consisting of pakhala (fermented rice), aloo masala, and saag. Parents of the victims alleged that the food served was stale and leftover from the previous day. The tragedy led to outrage in the area and led to clashes between local tribal communities and police personnel during the funeral procession. Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi ordered a high-level probe, following which the school's headmaster, Jayant Kumar Panigrahi, was placed under suspension for gross negligence. The State government also announced an ex-gratia compensation of Rs Seven lakh for the family of the deceased girl.