New Delhi, Feb 2 (IANS) After being in the eye of a storm for corruption in National Rural Health Mission projects, the Uttar Pradesh government finds itself under the scanner for the faulty implementation of Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS) in Gorakhpur district.
In a notice to the state government, the National Human Rights Commission has pointed to inadequacy of food ingredients and that the cooking was being done in unhygenic conditions.
The state chief secretary has been asked to reply within four weeks.
According to the Commission’s findings, Great Value Foods, the supplier for ICDS Project in Gorakhpur, did not have adequate stocks of food ingredients. Besides, the food was being prepared in a makeshift flour mill in unhygienic conditions.
The Analyst’s Report No. 2481, which has also been sent to the state government, said that the quality of food was not up to the mark.
The Analyst’s Report No. 2482 said the rice and soya powder used in prerparing baby food were adulterated.
The NHRC also pointed out that the state government was not following Supreme Court directions for decentralising procurements.
Information gathered from Gorakhpur’s District Project Officer, the beneficiaries and Anganwadi workers indicated that foodgrain bags were siphoned off and sold as cattle feed.
The Central Bureau of Investigation estimates that some Rs.8,000 crore has been siphoned off in the name of National Rural Health Mission projects.
