Puducherry: Education Minister M.O.H.F. Shahjahan rushed to Yanam on Friday in the wake of children taking ill after consuming breakfast supplied at a number of schools there. He also reviewed the situation at a meeting with the Regional Administrator and other officials. He told The Hindu that he had ordered supply of biscuits instead of bread under the free breakfast scheme for the time being.

He said it had been found that the distributor concerned had supplied stale bread on Wednesday, which caused nausea among children necessitating their admission for treatment in the Government Hospital. Mr. Shahjahan said all the children had since been discharged and their health condition was good now. Schools resumed functioning on Friday.

He said that a case had been filed with the local police against the bread supplier and further investigation was on.

He said he would request the Chief Minister to requisition the services of the CID to hold an enquiry into the quality of bread supplied to schools by the company.

Mr. Shahjahan said he had visited the centralised kitchen run by the Education Department in Yanam for preparing food for distribution to children under noon meal scheme. He said that he was satisfied with the maintenance of the kitchen. Education Secretary A.C. Verma and Director of School Education G. Ragesh Chandra accompanied Mr. Shahjahan.

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