Balasore: A teacher at a government primary school in Odisha's Balasore district has been suspended after an inquiry reportedly found evidence that pesticide was mixed with rice meant for students under the Mid-Day Meal scheme.

The incident came to light at Narayan Chandra UP School, Kalamachua, Khaira block, where parents staged a protest outside the school on Friday, accusing assistant teacher Kalpana Das of directing that pesticide be mixed with rice stored for students' meals.

Following the protest, a team led by Additional Block Education Officer (ABEO) Laxmidhar Singh visited the school and launched an investigation on the instructions of the Khaira education authorities.

Teacher suspended following inquiry into Mid-Day Meal contamination

According to officials, the inquiry found evidence suggesting that pesticide had been mixed with the rice meant for the Mid-Day Meal programme allegedly on the instructions of the assistant teacher. Based on the findings, the ABEO recommended disciplinary action to the District Education Officer, following which Kalpana Das was placed under suspension.

After receiving assurance of action, the protesting parents withdrew their demonstration. However, they demanded stringent action against the teacher and a thorough probe into the incident.

According to reports, the alleged incident occurred during the summer vacation when the school remained closed. Two cooks engaged under the Mid-Day Meal programme claimed that the assistant teacher had instructed them to mix pesticide with the rice to prevent insect infestation during storage.

The matter surfaced when the school's headmistress recently visited the campus and called the cooks to help prepare a cooking stove ahead of the reopening of classes. During the visit, the cooks reportedly informed her that pesticide had been mixed with the rice stock.

The headmistress subsequently alerted parents and local residents, bringing the issue into the public domain.

Local representatives expressed concern over the incident, stating that students had narrowly escaped a major tragedy. They called for strict accountability and stronger monitoring of food safety practices in schools.

Education authorities are expected to conduct further investigations into the matter while ensuring that food supplies meant for students remain safe and fit for consumption.