Guwahati: The recent death of two students from Meghalaya due to food poisoning in a Karnataka school has raised concerns about the state government's ability to provide free and compulsory education.

However, Education Minister Rakkam A Sangma has claimed that the state government is ensuring free education according to the Right to Education Act.

Sangma questioned the need for sending children outside Meghalaya, stating that there are enough provisions for free education for children from deprived backgrounds. He also claimed that the department sent a team to Karnataka to investigate the incident.

According to reports, the students were served stale dinner from a local restaurant on Holi, leading to mass food poisoning. Six persons, including the restaurant cook, hotel owner, and school staff, have been arrested. Food samples have been sent for forensic examination.

In a separate development, the government reviewed pending projects in the education sector, including the long-overdue Eklavya Model Residential (EMR) schools. Sangma instructed officials to expedite delayed projects and announced that scholarships for Scheduled Tribe students are being disbursed.