Nine-member panel formed to probe central kitchens in tribal ashram schools after Melghat food poisoning
The Tribal Development Department has set up a committee to examine the central kitchen system in ashram schools; its report is due by November 7, 2026.
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The state government has formed a nine-member committee to monitor the functioning of central kitchens in ashram schools. The step follows a food poisoning incident among students of government ashram schools in Melghat a few days ago.
The committee will closely examine the central kitchen system, known as the madhyavarti swayampakgruh, running in all ashram schools in the state under the Tribal Development Department, including those in Melghat. The department formed the committee in the backdrop of complaints about shortcomings in the central kitchen system and about students' health.
The committee includes Gopichand Kadam, additional commissioner, Thane; Dinkar Pawra, additional commissioner, Nashik; Santosh Tube, joint commissioner, Tribal Development Department; Ganesh Evnate, project officer, Ghodgaon; Ujjwal Pahurkar, nutrition expert, UNICEF; and Chandrakant Pawar, project officer, Nandurbar. A woman officer has also been placed on the committee. The study committee also has officials of the Tribal Development Department, nutrition officers and dietitians.
Complaints had been coming in continuously that the central kitchen system was not providing students with good quality, hot food. Complaints were also made that poor food quality was affecting the children's health. For this reason, the central kitchen system has been put on hold for now. Restoring the earlier meal arrangement in its place is under consideration. However, the final decision will be taken only after the committee's report is received.
The committee will examine, step by step, the cooking process in central kitchens, the quality of raw material, cleanliness and the nutritional value of the food. It will also check whether there is a system to ensure students get timely, hot meals. Other related issues will also be looked into in detail.
The committee has been directed to submit its report to the Commissioner of the Tribal Development Department in Nashik by November 7, 2026. The further decision on the future of the central kitchen system will be taken after this report.
