In a crackdown on food pilferage under the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS), the Delhi government on Tuesday suspended a child development officer, a number of supervisors and removed the
In a crackdown on food pilferage under the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS), the Delhi government on Tuesday suspended a child development officer, a number of supervisors and removed the incumbent official in charge of implementing the scheme in the national capital.
The action was taken following a surprise inspection of four central kitchens operated by different Mother Non-Profit Organisations (MNPOs), that are given contracts to prepare food for anganwadi centres. Heavy penalties were levied on the MNPOs were as well.
“We paid surprise visits to the centres between 7 am and 10 am. In many places, we found weight of the containers was being included in the overall weight of the cooked food. More shockingly, many centres did not have weighing machines at all,” Delhi women and child development minister Sandeep Kumar said.
The overall charge of ICDS projects has been taken over from Sanjiv Kumar, additional director (WCD), and fully assigned to deputy director Nikita Pawar. Those suspended include CDPO Asha Saxena and two supervisors. Two other supervisors have been sacked as they were employed on a contract basis,” WCD secretary Ashwani Kumar said.
Food containers were being readied for delivery to the anganwadi centres in the kitchens that supply food to around 20-25 anganwadi centres each. Mr Kumar said in many places food was not prepared according to the menu. “Instead of ‘pulao and chana’, ‘khichdi’ was prepared.”
“The supervisors often don’t check that the number of registered children is inflated and the excess amount is siphoned off. We have also sent food samples collected during the drive for test. Parents will have to show more involvement and hold officials accountable in such cases,” he said.
“It was also observed that packets of weaning food had not mentioned packing or expiry date. They appeared to have been badly nibbled. The minister said a certificate should be obtained from the anganwadi centre that material has been adequately and neatly received every day, giving the weighment details of received food and sought a report for taking corrective action,” an official statement said.
