By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Sep 19: Nongpoh MLA Mayralborn Syiem on Tuesday demanded action against supply of substandard food materials including rotten vegetables that reeked of foul odour to JNV Niangbari in Ri-Bhoi.
Moving a call attention motion during the autumn session of the Assembly on Tuesday, Syiem said the students of the institute have been supplied with expired medicines, while also pointing out the irregular supply of sanitary pads for schoolgirls. “This is serious. Irregularities must be checked and those responsible must be booked,” he said
Replying the motion, Education Minister Rakkam Sangma said that JNV is a residential school under the administrative control of the central government. According to Sangma, following the complaint, the Deputy Commissioner of Ri-Bhoi deputed a food safety officer to collect the samples of food, which were sent to laboratory.
Informing that the food safety inspector again conducted a surprise inspection, he said that the report has been submitted for analysis.
According to the Education minister, the PHE department is preparing an estimate for the construction of a deep bore well at a cost of Rs 33 lakh, adding that the DC has issued instructions to ensure that students are supplied with fresh and hygienic food and to even change the cooking utensils.
The school has also been instructed to change the location of the dustbin to another place, which lay near the kitchen.