Substandard quality pulse distributed to 12 K children to be replaced

Aurangabad, June 1:

The deputy chief executive officer of Zilla Parishad (ZP) Prasad Mirkale directed the supplier to replace substandard quality pulse distributed to 12,000 anganwadi children under Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS).

The nutritious meal is provided for improvement in the health and nutritional status of children zero–6 years. The pulses distributed to 1.25 lakh children in the age group of 3-6 in 3,510 anganwadis of the district as a nutritious meal for their good health.

Considering the current Covid 19 situation and good resistance power, a nutritious diet assumes important for these children.

The children were distributed substandard quality pulse. The news created chaos.

ZP administration took serious notice of the incident and directed the supplier to instantly replace the distributed pulse of 12,000 students of 310 anganwadis.

The supplier distributed pulse which was damaged in rainwater. On learning the substandard quality of pulse, the distribution to other students was stopped.

Health committee chairman Avinash Galande visited an anganwadi in Mahalgaon and confirmed the quality. The packets did not bear the names of the supplier, packaging date, validity and batch number. A demand was made that the administration should conduct a thorough probe.

The ZP administration woke up from slumber and directed the supplier to replace the distributed pulse.

Prasad Mirkale said that samples of substandard pulse were sent to the laboratory.

“The supplying agency signed an agreement of nutritious diet supply with the Government. There is a provision in the agreement if the substandard quality pulse is supplied, the supplier will have to replace it,” he added.