Food Manifest 
Key Development
The Telangana State Human Rights Commission (TSHRC) has taken suo motu cognisance of media reports on a suspected food poisoning incident at the BC Welfare Boys Hostel in Dharmavaram, under Itikyala mandal in Jogulamba Gadwal district. On November 1, 52 students fell ill after eating dinner at the hostel.
Officials said the students ate rice, sambar, and cabbage curry, and soon after the meal, many of them developed vomiting and stomach pain. Hostel staff immediately shifted the affected students to a government hospital. Doctors treated the students and confirmed that all were clinically stable. By the next day, 32 students had been discharged, while the rest remained under observation. Health officials also set up a medical camp in the hostel to monitor their recovery.
Commission Flags Food Safety Failures
After reviewing media reports, the Commission, headed by Dr Justice Shameem Akther, said the incident showed serious lapses in food safety and administrative supervision at the hostel. The TSHRC directed the Telangana Chief Secretary to conduct a thorough inquiry and submit a detailed report by 11 a.m. on November 24. The report must explain the cause of the incident, assess the quality of food served, and outline the corrective measures taken by the district administration and the welfare department to prevent similar cases.
Food Safety as a Human Rights Priority
The Commission emphasised that providing students in government hostels with safe and hygienic food is both a basic human right and a core administrative responsibility. It urged authorities to strengthen food monitoring systems and ensure accountability to protect the health and well-being of students across the state.
Source: The Times of India
