Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Dec 31: A `criminal act’ on the part of some ICDS officials of the Social Welfare Department has come to light as over 75 quintals ‘Dalia’ meant for thousands of children of over 300 Anganwadi Centers of the area, kept in a store by the department for the last more nine months at Mendhar in district Poonch, has turned rotten.
The startling revelations were made by the owner of the private store (shop), Satish Sharma who was not paid his rent by concerned ICDS project staff for about 10 months. He disclosed that Dalia supplied by a Jammu based supplier to the ICDS has turned rotten. It is giving foul smell and even some bags have been damaged by rats. Its consumption for the children of Anganwadi Centers will be highly dangerous to their lives.
Mr Sharma who is also president of SD Sabha, Mendhar told the Excelsior that that he also moved to the concerned CDPO and senior clerk, Mushtaq Ahmed and requested them to dispose off this rotten food stuff but they have not bothered about the matter. Even they are not paying rent of this large shop taken on rent as store. He said there was agreement of Rs 5000 rent per month but they have not even paid Rs 1000 till today.
Sources in the SWD said that there are 334 Anganwadi centers in Mendhar area and Parveen Choudhary, CDPO Mandi has been given the additional charge of the Mendhar Project. She mostly keeps the record with her at Surankote and visits Mendhar area off and on.
A former senior SWD official said that it is criminal act to let the stuff meant for children of Anganwadis to get waste/ rotten. He said either the stuff was purchased much more than the required quantity just to get commission by officials concerned or it was not distributed to the centers and retained there for black-marketing. The things will be clear if the proper investigation is done. He said that even the stuff to the Anganwadi workers is not given.
While the Project Officer, Poonch Manzoor Ahmed expressed his ignorance over the matter and said that he was not aware of even the distribution status of the stuff, Minister for Social Welfare Bali Bhagat said that he would hold an inquiry into the matter and take serious action against the concerned staff.
Mr Bhagat told the Excelsior that he has directed the DC Poonch M H Malik to get the store sealed immediately and hold an inquiry into the matter fixing responsibility and submit report by tomorrow. He said that department would make recovery of the rotten stuff from the concerned staff and they will be booked under criminal act.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
