Opposition takes govt to task on noon meal eggs

CHENNAI: Opposition parties, including DMK, DMDK and CPM, on Monday accused the government of irregularities in procurement of eggs for the state's noon meal scheme and anganwadi centres. The government came in for sharp criticism for bulk purchase of eggs at 4.51 a piece, much higher than the retail price.
CPM, BJP and PMK demanded a CBI inquiry into the alleged irregularities in egg supply.While the government formulated a policy for centralized procurement of eggs in 2013, the multiple layers of middlemen are making a killing. The government spends about 450 crore every year on purchase of eggs. On an average, the government procures 48 lakh eggs a day for school students taking the free noon meal and children attending anganwadi centres.
DMDK whip V C Chandrakumar said there were several discrepancies in egg procurement in the past. "The same company, which supplied eggs to government for the scheme at 3.19 per egg last year, is now selling at 4.51 per egg this year. The difference is huge," he said. "How can the bulk purchase price be higher than the retail price? This goes against the basic rules of economics," CPI MLA S Gunasekaran said.
DMK MLA S S Sivasankaran alleged that the weight of eggs too had gone down and ranged between 30g and 35g. As per the contract, the eggs should weigh between 46g and 52g. MMK MLA Aslaam Basha said local farmers would benefit only if the government reverts to its earlier policy of awarding district-level tenders.CPM MLA K Balakrishnan alleged that the difference in price between last year and this year gave rise to suspicion about malpractices.
Replying to the special call attention motion moved by the opposition, Social welfare minister B Valarmathi justified the procurement through state-level contract. "Irregularities took place in the previous DMK regime with a high procurement price and supply of low quality eggs. There is no irregularity in the purchase of eggs from private players now," she said. The centralized contract had only benefitted the state exchequer, she added. "Do not compare the prices of inferior eggs in retail market with that of Agmark-specified eggs procured by the government," she said.
The National Egg Coordination Committee fixes the farm gate price, but farmers say they earn less than the price and accuse influential sections of siphoning off huge amounts. The two contractors, Swarmabhoomi Enterprises of Coimbatore and Namakkal-based Natural Food Products, were chosen in the bidding to supply eggs in 2013 and 2014. The contractors, sources say, are expected to supply 100 crore eggs a year.