Nandapur: The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has expressed serious concern over the lack of dining halls in 190 educational institutions and 63 student hostels in Nandapur block of Koraput district. NCPCR Registrar Rajesh Kumar Singh has directed the Koraput District Collector and the state Education Secretary to take urgent steps to address the issue. The commission invoked provisions of the CPCR Act, 2005, the Right to Education Act, 2009, POCSO Act, 2012, and Juvenile Justice Act, 2015, emphasising the need for safe and hygienic dining spaces for students. Tripathy also stated that a resolution to build dining halls in all remaining institutions has been passed in the recent District PLC (Project Level Committee) meeting. Residents, parents, educationists, and activists have lauded the initiative and the timely intervention by both the NCPCR and Anup Patra, calling it a critical step towards improving student welfare and upholding children’s rights in tribal region.