Senior Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader and Bathinda MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal demanded initiation of a CBI probe into corruption in the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) programme in Punjab under which supplementary nutrition is provided to pregnant and lactating mothers and children through Anganwadi workers.
While raising the issue during zero hour in parliament, the Bathinda MP said the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government had taken away the responsibility of supplying milk powder, ‘ghee’ and ‘panjeeri’ – from the cooperative Verka and given the same to a private company after taking huge commissions. “The probe should examine why the contract for supplying the food items was taken away from the cooperative which was supplying satisfactory products for years and given to a private company”. She said the AAP government had also doubled the number of beneficiaries by creating a fake list to double the money received under the ICDS programme from Rs 150 crore to Rs 300 crore.
Asserting that sub-standard products being supplied under the scheme to mothers and children were playing with their lives, Badal said only a CBI probe could uncover the entire scam. She said since the beneficiaries were not at fault, the scheme should not be stopped but those responsible for corruption, including AAP functionaries, should be penalised. She also highlighted how the mismanagement of the AAP government had led to the stoppage of Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan funds and said the same should not happen in this case.
Badal also raised the issue of victimisation of Punjab Anganwadi Workers president Hargobind Kaur on the occasion.
She said the Anganwadi president had been dismissed from service after she exposed the entire scam. She said a Child Development Project Officer (CDPO) had also been dismissed for the same reason.
Badal said instead of such regressive measures, efforts should be made to regularise the services of Anganwadi workers and helpers who were only getting a salary of Rs 4,500 and Rs 2,200 per month respectively.
