Poor quality ration being given at Anganwadis, pregnant women complain to child rights panel
The Hindu
Pregnant & lactating women in Vijayawada complained of stale & poor quality material being provided under Take Home Ration (THR). SCPCR Chairman K. Appa Rao made surprise visit to Anganwadi centres & found insects in ragi flour. He alerted staff & asked govt. to maintain quality. He also asked women not to consume stale food & to complain to officers. WD&CW NTR District Project Director said material was tested in labs & suppliers blacklisted if found supplying poor quality.
Pregnant and lactating women complained to the State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (SCPCR) Chairman, K. Appa Rao, that stale and poor quality material was being provided to them under Take Home Ration (THR) at two Anganwadi centres here.
Mr. Appa Rao made a surprise visit to Darsipeta and Lambadipeta Anganwadi Centres in the city recently.
Under the YSR Sampoorna Poshana Scheme, the government is implementing THR for pregnant and lactating women at Anganwadi Centres. Fortified rice, red gram, oil, groundnut chikky, milk, rice flakes, eggs, ragi flour and jaggery are being supplied as part of a nutritious diet plan.
“In ragi flour, insects were found and I alerted the Anganwadi staff immediately. We request the government to maintain quality in THR,” said a woman, Saikam Brahma Tejaswini.
Another pregnant woman, Jyothi, complained that poor quality chikkies were distributed recently, and worms were also found.
Shocked over the complaints, Mr. Appa Rao said the issue would be taken to the notice of higher officials and it would be ensured that fresh, quality stocks are supplied to pregnant and lactating women and children at Anganwadi Centres.
“The government is spending crores of rupees under the YSR Sampoorna Poshana and YSR Sampoorna Poshana Plus schemes in the State. Action will be taken against the officers or the staff found negligent,” he said.
While residents are worried over deaths due to diarrhoea in Vijayawada, officials still grapple to find the root cause. Contaminated drinking water supplied by VMC officials is the reason, insist people in the affected areas, but officials insist that efforts are on to identify the disease and that those with symptoms other than diarrhoea too are visiting the health camps.