The State government’s decision to transfer the required money to anganwadi workers for buying eggs and milk for children was criticised by the general body of the Kalaburagi Zilla Panchayat on Saturday.
As the meeting began reviewing the decisions taken in the last meeting and the action taken subsequently, Gautam Patil, a ZP member, raised the issue by stating that the direct transfer of money had paved the way for widespread corruption and misuse of public funds and other members joined him.
“In many anganwadis, the actual strength of children in a given day is less than half of the strength shown in the attendance register. Anganwadi heads misappropriate funds by showing full attendance and maintaining that they have distributed eggs to all. By transferring the money directly to their accounts, the government has given allowed corruption to creep in,” he said.
Shobha Sirasagi, vice-president of the ZP, added that the schemes meant for providing notorious food to pregnant women and lactating mothers was a huge flop in the district as the distribution of food grains was on the paper only.
“What was given to pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers is being eaten up by the implementers of the scheme,” she said.
Raja P., Chief Executive Officer (CEO), said that the direct transfer money to anganwadi heads was a recent measure introduced by the government. He held that a proposal to reverse it could be sent the government if the ZP passes a resolution.
Some members also levelled allegations of corruption against Mallikarjun Reddy, Deputy Director of Women and Child Welfare in procuring equipment and materials by violating the Karnataka Transparency in Public Procurements Act.
