New Delhi, 20th December, 2013

The National Human Rights Commission has taken suo motu cognizance of media reports that 55 children fell sick after consuming mid-day meal at Sugia Middle School in Sheohar district of Bihar. The forensic report confirmed the presence of toxic insecticide strains in the cooking oil used for making food at the school.
The Commission has observed that the contents of the press reports, if true, raise a serious issue of violation of human rights of children and issued notices to the Principal Secretary (Education), Government of Bihar and to the District Magistrate, Sheohar, Bihar calling for reports in the matter within four weeks.

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