Women’s self-help groups unable to bid for contracts

Mumbai: Two years after changes in the criteria for food under the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) scheme was changed, several women self help groups (SHG) are still struggling to compete with big contractors. Opposition parties alleged that the BJP-led government had favoured select contractors behind the policy change. Women and Child Welfare minister Pankaja Munde was criticised for the changes in the norms and accused of being involved in the chikki scam.  

According to the changes in the criteria, those SHGs who do not use extrusion technology will not be allowed to supply food. Extrusion is a process that combines several unit operations like mixing, cooking, kneading and shaping through machines without involvement of physical work.

The Congress alleged that the change in the criteria was to favour the “mafias.” “Mafias are involved in this ICDS scheme. They are minting money from the scheme. They are only responsible for the norm changes so that ordinary SHG would not be able to participate in the tendering process. Our government had made tender norms in such a way so that the SHG would benefit from it,” alleged Congress spokesperson Sachin Sawant.

Leader of Opposition in the legislative council Dhananjay Munde had raised the issue then in the House. He and his cousin Pankaja even had a heated exchange over the issue. Finally, some of the SHGs moved the HC seeking intervention in the matter.