Silvester D'Souza
Daijiworld Media Network – Kundapur (EP)

Kundapur, Jan 2: Parents of children studying in Moodu Valthur anganwadi in Kavradi gram panchayat limits on Saturday January 2 expressed ire over worms being found in rice supplied to the school.

The 20 kg rice sack was provided by the state government women's and children welfare department office situated at Kundapur taluk Koteshwara Markodu under ICDS project through women's nutritious food training and manufacturing centre MSPC.

The bag was marked November 2015 and it was distributed to the anganwadi in December 2015. The anganwadi assistant and parents found worms when the bag was opened for cooking. The matter was brought to the attention of Kavradi gram panchayat member Prakaschandra Shetty. When gram panchayat members came and inspected, they found that the rice in the bag was of poor quality and unfit for consumption. They were shocked to see several worms feeding on the rice.

The parents asked if it was justifiable to make poor children eat such rice due to the indifference of the departments concerned, even though the government had introduced several projects for the health and protection of children.

The villagers expressed their anger against government laxity and urged that the rice be taken back and good quality rice supplied immediately. They threatened to intensity their protests if the department concerned does not act soon.