Pubdate: Wed, 28 Jul 2004
Source: Central Chronicle (India)
Copyright: 2004 Central Chronicle, Bhopal (India
Contact:  http://www.centralchronicle.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3429
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)

LIQUOR, GANJA WITH MID DAY MEAL!

SARAIPALI, (Chhatisgarh): In a sensational case, a headmaster and a
teacher of a primary school here were suspended after they allegedly
supplied liquor, bhang and ganja to primary students mixing with their
mid day meal.

Sub divisional magistrate Ashok Shrivastav, who had conducted an
inquiry into the complaint, told UNI over telephone that he had found
the headmaster and two other teachers of Chandibona primary school in
Mahasamund district prima facie guilty of providing intoxicants to the
primary school children.

On the basis of inquiry report, district collector Manish Tyagi
ordered suspension of headmaster Arakshit Patel and teachers Devadi
Choudhary and Santlal Choudhary.

As many as 92 students are studying in the Chandibona primary school.

The matter came to administration's notice after some parents
complained that their children were found to be regularly drowsy after
returning from school. After questioning the children, the parents
learned that they experienced drowsiness after having their mid day
meal in the school.

Suspecting foul play, the parents alerted the administration, which
immediately ordered a magisterial inquiry into the matter.

During inquiry, it has come to notice that the headmaster was a
habitual drunkard and both the teachers also used to join him in
consuming liquor even during school time. It also came to notice that
all the three teachers used to consume other intoxicants like bhang
and ganja.

According to complaints, the teachers used to mix bhang and ganja and
even liquor in the dal (pulses) to be supplied to students with the
mid day meal.

Meanwhile, official sources said in state capital Raipur that the
state government has taken the issue very seriously and stern action
would be initiated against the guilty.
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MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin