Hyderabad: BJP activists staged a protest on Friday, attempting to surround Damodaram Sanjeevaiah Sankshema Bhavan in response to food contamination issues at government-run residential schools and hostels. Members of the BJP OBC Morcha and Mahila Morcha gathered outside the building, which houses various welfare department offices.
Tensions escalated as police intervened to disperse the protesters, leading to confrontations. Authorities arrested several leaders and activists, including OBC Morcha president Anand Goud and Mahila Morcha president Shilpa Reddy, and transported them to Goshamahal Stadium.
The BJP has blamed the Congress government for the incidents of food poisoning in these government institutions. In reaction to the protests and growing concerns, the state government established a Task Force to address food safety in government-run schools, hostels, and hospitals.
This three-member Task Force, which will be set up for each institution, comprises the Commissioner of Food Safety or a food safety officer, the head of the relevant department, and a district-level officer. Additionally, an institutional food safety committee will be formed to oversee food preparation and serving to prevent contamination and foodborne illnesses.
Each committee will include the head of the institution and two staff members responsible for inspecting kitchens and storage areas before meals. They must ensure the quality of ingredients and hygiene standards, tasting the food before service.
These measures were implemented after Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy expressed anger over multiple food poisoning incidents in residential schools and hostels, warning that negligent officials would face dismissal. Following the Telangana High Court’s criticism of the government regarding these incidents, the Chief Minister instructed District Collectors to take disciplinary action against negligent officials.