Bangalore, July 05: A child has died and over 700 school children have taken ill after eating contaminated food served under Karnataka’s mid-day meal scheme "Akshara Dasoha". The scheme has been suspended after the incident. Children have been falling ill for the last three days in four districts of the state. The deputy commissioners had met yesterday and an inquiry had been ordered, the outcome of which has still not been public.

All the children have been admitted to government hospitals of their districts. Chief minister S M Krishna had said yesterday that full caution would be exercised in the future. He made the statement after reviewing the implementation of the scheme, which was extended to cover the entire state from July 01 after its initial implementation in seven districts.

The Gadag district deputy commissioner has been asked to hold an inquiry and initiate action against those responsible for the lapse.

Of the 33,156 centres in which the scheme was to be implemented across 20 districts. It had taken off in 20,670 centres so far and the remaining were to be covered in about two months.

Suggestions are beginning to crop that the government should distribute foodgrain instead of hot meals now.
Bureau Report