09 September,2026 12:11 PM IST | Palghar | mid-day online correspondent
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Hundreds of tribal students from residential schools in Maharashtra's Palghar district staged a protest, demanding that the central kitchen system be scrapped over allegations that stale and unhygienic food was being supplied to students.
The students raised concerns about the risk of food poisoning, particularly because meals prepared at a centralised facility are transported over long distances before being served at residential schools.
The protesters marched and later staged a sit-in outside the Tribal Development Project office in the Jawhar area on Tuesday, seeking action on the quality of food and other issues affecting students at residential schools run by the Tribal Development Department.
The students alleged that the centralised kitchen system was affecting the quality of meals served at residential schools.
According to the protesters, food prepared at a central facility is transported to schools located at considerable distances. They claimed that the meals sometimes reached the schools in an inferior, stale or unhygienic condition.
The students said the long transportation time raised concerns over the safety and freshness of the food, particularly in the absence of adequate measures to maintain its quality during transit.
They demanded that the authorities reconsider the system and take steps to ensure that students receive fresh and hygienically prepared meals.
The students marched to the Tribal Development Project office in the Jawhar area and staged a sit-in to draw attention to their concerns.
The demonstration focused not only on food quality but also on what the students described as administrative neglect and shortcomings in basic facilities at residential schools.
The protesters submitted a 13-point charter of demands to the project officer, outlining their concerns and seeking improvements in the functioning of the schools.
The 13-point charter raised issues concerning the management of residential schools and the availability of basic welfare and other facilities, according to the students.
They alleged that problems had persisted because of administrative shortcomings and inadequate attention to the needs of students living and studying at the schools.
The students called for action on their demands and sought greater accountability from the authorities responsible for managing the residential school system.
The protest also highlighted concerns over the arrangements for providing food to students who depend on residential schools for their daily meals.
The students initially refused to withdraw their protest and said they would continue the agitation until their concerns were addressed.
Officials later assured the protesters that steps would be taken to improve the quality of food being supplied to the residential schools.
Following the assurance, the students called off the demonstration, officials said.
The students, however, had sought broader action through their 13-point charter, covering issues beyond food quality and relating to the overall functioning and facilities at the residential schools.
(With inputs from PTI)
