Bhubaneswar, April 16 (NationPress) The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) has reached out to Antar Singh Arya, the Chairman of the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST), requesting immediate intervention regarding the tragic death of a tribal student and widespread food poisoning incident at a government school in the Rasagovindpur block of Mayurbhanj district, Odisha.

The BJD leaders highlighted that a 12-year-old tribal student, Rupali Besra, tragically passed away while receiving treatment at the Pandit Raghunath Murmu Medical College and Hospital in Baripada on April 14. This incident follows a severe bout of illness that affected over 150 other students living in the hostel, who fell ill after consuming stale food served on April 12.

It was reported that the food included 'Pakhala' (fermented rice), saga bhaja, and mashed potatoes, which were leftovers from April 11, thus violating established dietary guidelines.

This alarming incident has raised significant concerns regarding negligence, the failure to adhere to food safety regulations, and the dereliction of duties by those responsible for the welfare of Scheduled Tribe students in state-run residential institutions. The BJD leaders emphasized that despite the requirement for a nutritious meal plan, subpar and outdated food was served to these vulnerable children.

They further stated that numerous students are still receiving treatment at the Pandit Raghunath Murmu Medical College and Hospital and the Community Health Centre in Rasagovindpur, underscoring the seriousness of the situation.

The incident has ignited widespread outrage among parents, local communities, and the general populace, highlighting a serious systemic failure that necessitates urgent and strict action.

The BJD leaders have called on the NCST to conduct an independent and comprehensive investigation into the incident, to hold accountable those responsible for negligence, and to ensure appropriate compensation and support for the family of the deceased student.

Additionally, the NCST has been urged to propose measures to enhance food safety, monitoring, and accountability across all government-run Ashram schools in the state, ensuring proper medical care and rehabilitation for all affected students.

The BJD leaders also requested that the NCST Chairman visit Mayurbhanj district promptly to gain firsthand insight into the situation, which would help restore confidence among affected families and uplift the hopes of the tribal community.

"We seek your immediate intervention in this matter to guarantee justice for the victim and to protect the rights and welfare of tribal students," the BJD leaders implored.