The manner in which functionaries of Anganwadi Centres, run by the Social Welfare Department, are plundering the department and thereby seriously endangering the health of hundreds of thousands of children, is a serious issue. The nutrients supplied to the Anganwadi Centres in Samba district are sub-standard to the extent that they can prove serious health hazard for the children to whom these are provided as food items. It is a classical example showing how self-seeking functionaries can subvert a well-intended scheme. There are not one or two but several charges against the Social Welfare Department. The first and most serious charge is that eatables like suji, pulses, oil, grams, mustard oil, nutri etc. supplied to the Centres all are sub-standard as shown by the laboratory tests when randomly picked samples were tested. Who is responsible for harming the health of thousands of kids whom food is served under the scheme? There is a purchase committee in the concerned district and why did the members fail to point out the grave irregularity of contractors supplying sub-standard eatables. There are nearly 30,000 Anganwadi Centres in the State and the number in Jammu region is nearly 19000. The number of inmates runs into lakhs. One can imagine the amount involved in supplying sub-standard stuff to these Centres. Although the samples that were picked up pertain to Samba district Anganwadi Centres and the Vigilance Department has so far restricted its action to this district only, yet it is feared that the same story will be true about other districts in Jammu as well as Kashmir regions.
The second charge brought against the Anganwadi Centres of Samba district is that they have purchased items worth lakhs of rupees that are not permitted under the rules of the scheme. For example, toys, plastic games, charts, utensils etc. worth 15 to 20 crore rupees are shown among purchases that are not allowed at all. Obviously, these purchases were made to oblige some suppliers and help them make money clandestinely. The third charge is that the functionaries who have made purchases worth crores of rupees had no authority to do so. Some of them were not authorized to make purchases worth a couple of thousand rupees not to speak of crores. How were powers of purchase delegated to such functionaries and who delegated them is a matter that will be probed into. The fourth charge is that purchases worth crores of rupees are made without inviting tenders and going through the normal process.
The case is referred to the Vigilance Department and it has begun the process of investigation. The record seized from various CDPO offices and Project Officer Samba has made startling revelations about the state of affairs in the ICDS wing of the Social Welfare Department. One investigating officer remarked that what has been seized is just the tip of the iceberg. There seems to be a well-knit nexus of suppliers/ contractors and some officials of the ICDS Projects and some key officials have been minting money. The conspiracy is deep rooted and even fake labels are put on the branded commodities so that no objection would be raised. The Vigilance officials who have closely examined the so-called branded stuff have concluded that fake labels are applied to hoodwink inspectors. It is obvious that the Vigilance officials will question the suppliers and contractors and in doing so, many more startling revelations can become known.
A number of agencies are involved in this case of large-scale corruption. The Vigilance Organization should make a thorough investigation and frame cases against the culprits.
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