Poor quality midday meal: officials, contractors warned of action

Lokayukta inspector M S Pavan Kumar has warned the officials and contractors of recommending disciplinary action against them in case of supply of poor quality food grain for Akshara Dasoha scheme.

Speaking at public grievance redress meeting at taluk panchayat here on Wednesday, he said that there had been lot of complaints about the quality of food grain being supplied under midday (Akshara Dasoha) scheme. He recalled that during his recent visit to the school in Mallanayakanahalli in Mulbagal taluk, he found that the food was of poor quality.

“Children are like god and it is not proper to feed them with substandard food. The state government has been spending crores of rupees on midday meal scheme.

“But the money is being misused and children are being provided with poor quality food. Will do feed such food to your children,” the Lokayukta officer questioned.

Akshara Dasoha assistant director Balaji said that there had been no complaints about the quality of food grain supplied to schools in Kolar taluk. Emphasis has been laid on cleanliness in school kitchen. As per standard operating procedure, every day a teacher is serving as nodal officer of the project.

Pavan Kumar said that the assistant director should regularly inspect villages to check for quality of food. He said that stern action should be initiated against the school staff and the contractor concerned if it is found that children are being served poor quality of food.

The inspector took serious exception to Excise officer Ramamani for not attending the meeting in uniform.

“I am sad that there is no uniform for Lokayukta staff. But, in departments where it is compulsory, the personnel should compulsorily wear it. “You should attend the next meeting in uniform failing which stern action will be initiated,” he said.

He said that the officials of excise department recently arrested men who were selling ganja near Kolar. “What were the local staffers doing?” he said. Ramamani said that several people peddling narcotic substances have been arrested by conducting raids across the district.

She said that some farmers were growing ganja (poppy) without knowing its consequences. They are being educated about it.

Pavan Kumar said that there had been complaints about KSRTC drivers parking vehicles at places other than stipulated ones. This has been leading to accidents.

Therefore, the drivers should be directed to halt buses only at stipulated places. He asked the authorities of KSRTC to give suitable directions to the drivers in this regard.

He said that it has come to notice that some school van drivers were driving vehicle inebriated. Children will be at risk due to their negligence. He suggested the regional transport officer issue directions to the schools for sacking such drivers.

The officials from the horticulture department said that the department had received a grant of Rs 1.50 crore to extend assistance to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes under ‘Krishi Sinchana’ scheme. But, eligible persons are coming forward to avail of the benefit.

Pavan Kumar suggested the officials to conduct gram sabhas and take steps to create awareness about the scheme through media.

People from various section of society aired their grievances in the meeting. Taluk panchayat executive officer M Chandrappa was present.