Over 50 Students Hospitalised After Suspected Food Poisoning at Government School in Dausa

Dausa, Rajasthan; September 14, 2025

More than 50 students from a government school in Chudiyavas, Dausa district, Rajasthan, were hospitalised on September 14 after suffering symptoms consistent with food poisoning. The incident has raised fresh concerns about the quality and safety of mid-day meals in public schools across the state. According to initial reports, the students began complaining of stomachache, headaches, and nausea after consuming food provided at the school. Local health authorities responded swiftly; about 15-20 students exhibiting more severe symptoms were referred to the District Hospital in Dausa. The remainder received treatment at local health centres. By early afternoon, most of the children were stable, but parents and community members remain alarmed at how quickly the situation escalated. The district collector, Devendra Kumar, confirmed that two teams have been tasked with investigating the incident: one from the food safety department, which will assess the kitchen, food ingredients, hygiene practices, and vendor contracts; the other from the education department, which will check adherence to nutritional and safety norms under the government’s Mid-Day Meal Scheme. There is particular focus on whether vendors were supplying substandard goods, whether storage and cooking conditions were sanitary, and whether staff were trained in safe food handling. This is not the first time Rajasthan has been plagued by allegations of poor meal quality in its government schools. Past incidents have highlighted gaps in oversight, delays in vendor payments, lack of routine inspections, and sometimes political apathy. Critics say that insufficient monitoring, especially in remote areas, allows lapses to persist, putting children’s health at risk. Parents are demanding accountability and safer meal services. Health officials have warned that food-borne illnesses can spread rapidly in a school setting, especially when many children eat from the same source and sanitation is poor. In response, the district administration has ordered all government schools in Dausa to suspend meal service temporarily until the investigation clarifies the cause. They have also asked for food samples to be preserved and tested in accredited labs. Local NGOs and parent-teacher associations are calling for a systemic review of the Mid-Day Meal Scheme in Rajasthan: stricter vendor selection, transparent quality checks, regular training of cooks and helpers, and perhaps community oversight committees. Some parents say they will avoid sending their children to school meals until they are assured of safety. The Rajasthan state government has promised to take “strict action” against those found responsible. Whether that includes penalising vendors, dismissing staff, or overhauling inspection mechanisms, remains to be seen. For now, the episode underscores a recurring problem: well-intentioned welfare schemes losing public trust when basic safety is compromised.