Delhi govt cracks down on ICDS food pilferage

Cracking down on food pilferage under the ICDS scheme, Delhi government today suspended a child development officer, number of supervisors and removed the incumbent official in charge of implementing the scheme in the national capital.

The actions were taken following a surprise inspection of four central kitches run by different Mother Non Profit Organisations (MNPOs), who are given contracts to prepare food for anganwadi centres. The MNPOs were heavily penalised as well.

"We paid surprise visits to the centres between 7 AM to 10 AM. In many places we found weight of the containers were 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 Nikita Pawar, Deputy Director. Those suspended include CDPO Asha Saxena and two supervisors. Services of two other supervisors have been terminated as they were employed on 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.

Kumar said in many places food was not prepared according to then 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," Kumar 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 that 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 detailed report from the Department for taking corrective action," an official statement said.