By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: The implementation of the Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS) has fallen into a fresh controversy with the State Government allegedly exploiting the Self Help Groups (SHGs) who have been supplying the food items under the scheme.
It has been informed that the Government is quoting the prices for supply of the various food items under the scheme at less than the market price.
While the actual market price of Bengal gram per kg is Rs 50, the Government rate is Rs 42 per kg which is eight rupees less than the market price.
Similarly the Government rate for dry peas per kg is Rs 27.50 for while the actual market price is Rs 32.
Even in the case of Rajma (dried red beans) the Government has quoted a price which is Rs 6.70 lesser than the actual market price which is Rs 65 per kilogram.
This disparity in the price quoted by the Government and the actual market price has intrigued many. “How can there be any supplier to the Government when they would have to go at a loss?” asked a supplier.
This lopsided situation has hurt the SHGs which are supplying food item to the ICDS. Today they have been forced to purchase the food items from the open market at a higher rate than that quoted by the government. After running their business at a loss, five SHGs who are supplying the food items under the scheme in the localities under the urban areas have decided to stop doing so for the present quarter (July to September).
Sources informed that the SHGs had in fact requested the Social Welfare department to revise the prices to enable them to make some profit while carrying out their business.
But the Department of Social Welfare has remained intransigent, sources informed. They said that the State Government has on the other hand revised the price of milk supplied by a Noida based firm Continental Milkose India Limited from Rs 185 to Rs 231 since April 1st 2011.
Sources also informed that the department has directed the SHGs to purchase fortified food items like suji, dalia, atta and pounded rice from a shop in Garikhana, Mawprem owned by one Binod Kumar Jagdish Prasad.
“The department is flouting the Supreme Court ruling that contractors shall not be used for supply of nutritional food under the ICDS. The apex court had ruled that ICDS funds shall be spent by making use of village communities, self help groups and mahila mandals for buying of grains and preparation of meals,” sources said.
Sources also questioned the nexus of the Social Welfare department with the shop owner from where the SHGs have been compelled to buy the fortified food items.