Children are considered as the future of a nation, but in Kashmir, under the much touted Integrated Child Development Scheme(ICDS), they are being fed ‘slow poison”.
In a latest case, a major scam has reportedly came to the fore in Social Welfare department’s flagship ICDS in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district. By this life risking scam, the officials have managed to grab huge chunks of money by providing sub-standard and adulterated food items to the children.
In the name of pulses, dalya and other nutritious food, some officers of the Social Welfare department under the ICDS are providing ”slow poison” to the children.
Most of the supplied food packets comprising different types of pulses are not only spoiled but also major alterations have been found in the date of manufacturing.
Pictures taken show that rotten food is being fed to the kids in the district.
”The batch number and date of manufacturing is written by hand,” a source said.
Anganwari workers managed to clear their way by saying that the supplies are being sent by the higher authorities.
”I was asked to provide what is being supplied. My conscience didn’t allow me. I kept various bags under open sunny sky to dry them so that the insects would die. The supervisor asked me not to disobey the orders,” said an Anganwadi worker, who refused to be named.
”The whole supply that we received was spoiled,”said a Sarpanch.
The laboratory tests of the food samples were conducted in Srinagar which had declared the food items as substandard.
The food items of Rajhdani brand were also declared as substandard by the laboratory of food safety and standards authority in Srinagar on May 16.
According to sources, the supply was in the store for more than three months during which they got infected. “The supplier was not asked to withdraw the rotten items instead the field employees were forced to assure their consumption,” a source said.
”I repeatedly insisted top officials that the supply should be lifted back,” an employee said.
District officials play blame game against each other.