Dead lizard spotted in Mid-day meal's khichdi, parents protest

An alarming incident occurred at an Anganwadi center in Chakbazar, Khatra, Bankura, on Thursday morning when a lizard was discovered in khichuri served to children. The khichuri, prepared at the local Anganwadi center, was taken home by parents to be fed to their children. One parent noticed the presence of a lizard in the khichuri while serving the meal, which caused immediate panic and concern among the residents.

After the discovery, two children who had eaten the khichuri were rushed to Khatra Sub-divisional hospital for a health check-up. Doctors at the hospital confirmed that the children showed no immediate signs of illness, but the situation raised serious questions about the safety and hygiene of food served at the center. The parents expressed their concern, stating that incidents like this, involving food contamination, have occurred before.

The discovery prompted local parents and residents to stage protests outside the Anganwadi center, demanding accountability for the incident. Protestors claimed that the kitchen facilities at the center were unhygienic and that such incidents had been reported multiple times in the past. “The kitchen is not cleaned properly, and these types of incidents happen repeatedly,” said a local resident. They called for immediate action to ensure food safety and sanitation standards at the center were strictly enforced.

In response to the allegations, an Anganwadi worker defended the food preparation process, stating that the lizard could have fallen from the roof of the kitchen during cooking. The worker denied any negligence in food preparation or failure to follow food safety protocols. However, the residents remained unconvinced, urging authorities to investigate the cleanliness of the kitchen and address the repeated complaints regarding food hygiene.

Local authorities, including the Panchayat head and the Block Development Officer (BDO), visited the center after the protests. The Panchayat head confirmed that most of the khichuri had already been taken home by parents before the discovery of the lizard, likely preventing further consumption. The BDO assured that an investigation would be conducted into the matter, and steps would be taken to ensure proper hygiene practices and food safety protocols are followed at the center moving forward.