Plastic, sand, stones in midday meal!

GONDIA: After Navegaon Bandh Anganwadi Centre, there are complaints regarding the midday meal scheme from many other villages in Gondia district.
Recently, 225 dry food packets supplied to Kalimati and Takari anganwadis in Amgaon tehsil were found to be unfit for consumption as they contained sand, plastic pieces and small stones. There were 84 packets each of Sattu, Upama and Shira.
According to anganwadi worker Shakuntala Harinkhede, PS member Vidyasagar Pardhi, sarpanch Sushila Gautam, police patil Bahadur Tembhare and Tanta Mukti president Sonawane have recommended the ZP to lodge complaint against the supply contractor. These packets had seal of Mahalaxami Mahila Udyog and Bal Vikas Bahuuddeshiya Audyogik Sanstha Kota (Rajasthan) with manufacturing date of September 2012.
Similar complaints have come from Chandori in Tiroda Tehsil. According to Bal Vikas department of Gondia ZP, it has received complaints in this regard and the matter is being investigated.
When contacted, assistant commissioner of food and drug department, Bhandara, MS Kembalkar said that they have seized 4000 quintals rice worth Rs26,000 for inspection from Thana ashram school in Amgaon tehsil after receiving complaint in this regard.
Regarding supply of substandard food to other anganwadis, Kembalkar said that the supply had been stopped immediately after receiving the reports. "There are over 500 anganwadis in the district so we cannot send our teams to each and every school for inspection. Therefore, we have asked the anganwadis to send samples to our office. Action can be initiated if the food is found to be of substandard quality," he said.
Regarding the dry food packets, he said they will be first inspecting the samples received from the manufacturer before deciding anything.