The Hindu

Udupi, Jan 5: The supply of substandard food to anganwadis in the district was highlighted at the general body meeting of the Udupi Zilla Panchayat here on Monday.

Raising the issue, Sarasu Bangera, member, said that the quality of food supplied to anganwadis was so bad that three children vomited after a meal during her visit to an anganwadi. Earlier, the food was prepared locally. Now, packaged food was being supplied. There were many complaints against it and hence it should be stopped immediately, she said. Bhujanga Shetty, member, said there was “underhand dealing” in this entire project. The food came from Bangalore and it was being packaged at Bommarabettu near Udupi,Members demanded that the earlier system of women’s self-help groups preparing the food locally be restored.D. Pranesh Rao, in-charge CEO of the panchayat, directed the CDPO to send the packaged food for testing to the Central Food Technological Research Institute (CFTRI), Mysore, and submit a report on the findings at the next meeting.

Raju Poojary, member, said that the quality of bicycles supplied to government high school students was so poor that their parts were falling off within six months.

The zilla panchayat approved a draft annual plan of Rs. 76.11 crore for 2010-11.