The Bihar government’s Social Welfare Department has taken decisive action following the deaths of three inmates and the illness of several others at Ashra Grih, a state-run shelter home for differently-abled women in Patna. Contaminated food served at the shelter home was found to be the cause of the tragedy.
On November 7, a 24-year-old woman succumbed to the effects of the tainted food, followed by the deaths of a nine-year-old girl on November 10 and a 12-year-old girl on November 13. An investigation by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) revealed that the food was adulterated. Spices, including turmeric, were found to contain lead chromate, a toxic substance deemed unsafe under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
Prompted by these findings, the officer-in-charge of the shelter home has been suspended, and 12 other employees dismissed for negligence. The supplier responsible for providing contaminated food materials is being blacklisted, with an FIR registered against them.
Harjot Kaur Bamhrah, Additional Chief Secretary of the Social Welfare Department, visited Patna Medical College Hospital to monitor the recovery of affected inmates, who are expected to be discharged soon. She also directed immediate medical examinations for all remaining shelter residents and asked District Magistrates across Bihar to inspect shelter homes within a week.
This incident underscores grave lapses in food safety and oversight, sparking measures to safeguard the welfare of vulnerable individuals in state-run institutions. The government’s swift actions aim to prevent such tragedies in the future.
Image Source: Deccan Herald
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