PANAJI
The Directorate of Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) has suspended the licence of Mangueshi based Utkarsh Women’s Self-Help Group, whose mid-day meal, supplied to students across several schools in Ponda taluka, was found with maggots. The SHG, which supplies meals to nearly 40 schools, is directed to immediately stop the service.
On Tuesday, the SHG had supplied pulao with soya bean chunks to government primary, and government and aided high schools in Savoi Verem, Volvoi and Keri. The food was reportedly found with maggots. As per the schools, some students had even consumed the meal by the time the maggots were noticed.
FDA director Jyoti Sardesai confirmed that the department has suspended the licence of the SHG with immediate effect, till further orders.
Director Education Shailesh Zingade also said that based on FDA order, the Education Department has also issued directions to the SHG to discontinue the supply of meals across all 40 schools.
Zingade said that the department is currently working on stop-gap arrangements. The concerned ADEIs are likely to be given charge for now to provide dry and healthy snacks.
According to the SHG, they had purchased soya chunks from a shop at Mardol and there are reports that maggots were in the soya chunks.
