Pune:
Parents of students of the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC)-managed Krida Niketan School at Saritanagari on Sinhagad Road on Thursday demonstrated on the school premises against the alleged distribution of stale fruits and food under the mid-day meal scheme.
The parents said school principal Jyoti Mankar was transferred by the PMC's school board when she complained about the poor quality of food. Local corporator Shankar Pawar said Mankar raised the issue before the PMC and the school board officers.
She complained about the contractor engaged by the board of providing substandard food to the students. The irked parents alleged that their children fell ill after eating the food at school while some said students vomited after having the food.
Some parents had told their children not to eat the food given at school; instead supplying home-made food to the children.
Pawar said after parents lodged their complaints about the food with Mankar, who followed it up with the authorities, she was transferred. "The contractor seems to be an influential person," Pawar said.
The parents said the civic body spends around Rs133 per student (for his or her meals). "What is the use of spending money if our children are falling ill," they said.
School board chairperson Sangeeta Tiwari rushed to the school after being informed about the agitation and interacted with the parents. Later, she removed the contractor. "The contract has been scrapped and a new one will be signed immediately," she said.
Tiwari said the PMC will seek suggestions of dieticians, as the school is supporting sports and sportspersons need healthy diet.
The school has classes from standards IV to VII. There are 92 students who have been performing well in sports.
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