Members of the Federation of Koraga Development Associations staged a dharna in front of the Deputy Commissioner’s Office here on Friday against the substandard food being supplied to Koraga families.
President of Samagra Grameena Ashrama Shashikala Sacheripete said the people of the Koraga community were the original inhabitants of the region, but their numbers had declined due to various reasons. “Nearly 80 per cent of people belonging to the community are anaemic,” she said.
Under the ‘Moolanivasi Yojane’ introduced in 2000, each Koraga family having five members is entitled to get 2 kg green gram, “ragi” and jaggery, 1 kg chick peas and toor dal, one litre of palm oil and 30 eggs, a month. If a family had more members then the quantity is also proportionately increased, she said.
Under the Moolanivasi Yojane, these items were provided for six months from June to December through the anganwadis. But last year and this year, the food items supplied were of substandard quality and even the eggs were rotten. The food items were not being supplied in time. Sometimes the supply was delayed by a month.
She said the issue was brought to the notice of the officials of the Integrated Tribal Development Project (ITDP) Department, but no action was taken. Ms. Sachirepete demanded that the tender given to the supplier revoked for supplying substandard.
The food items should be supplied in correct quantity and at the right time. All the items should be supplied in one go. A committee comprising officials and members of the Koraga community should be formed to check and maintain the quality of the food items, she said.
The protesters displayed the substandard green gram, jaggery and other items during staging the dharna.
Shasikala Nada, president of the District Committee of the Federation, Vinaya Adve, Treasurer, Kumar Manipal, Joint Secretary, were present.
