TV
Raising concern over the substandard quality of 'chhatua', the nutritious food provided to children, pregnant and lactating women, and adolescent girls under the supplementary nutrition programme, the Odisha Legislative Assembly Speaker Surama Padhy on Saturday directed Women and Child Development Department Minister Pravati Parida to initiate action against the erring supplying agencies.
The move from the Speaker came after BJP MLA from Digapahandi Sidhant Mohapatra raised questions over the Chhatua quality in the House and asked what steps have been taken by the government to ensure good quality ‘Chhatua’ provided to the children.
“We should never compromise on the quality of ‘Chhatua’, no matter what. Instead of accepting our mistakes, we try to shift the blame on others. So, I request the respected Minister to provide data on what are the steps being taken to stop infiltration in the preparation of Chhatua,” Mohapatra said.
Replying to Mohapatra's question, Deputy CM Pravati Parida said that a team of supervisors have been engaged in supervising the mixing of ‘chhatua’ in the take-home ration-making units.
“Supervisors have been directed to visit manufacturing units and keep an eye on the quality of ‘Chhatua’ and check illegal mixing of any other products. Two separate committees have also been set up to check the quantity and quality of ‘Chhatua’,” Pravati Parida informed the House.
Worth mentioning, mixing is now being supervised by lady supervisors or members of the Inquiry Committee. Roasted wheat, Bengal gram, groundnuts and sugar must be mixed in proportions recommended by government guidelines.
Moreover, senior officers of the district administration and Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) functionaries also remain present in the ration units during the mixing procedure.
“If there is any complaint regarding a specific ‘Chhatua’ brand then I will direct a departmental enquiry in this regard,” Pravati added.
Later, the Speaker directed Minister Parida to take the matter seriously and initiate action against the erring supplying agencies.
“In reality, neither children nor elders are consuming ‘Chhatua’. It is being used as cattle feed. Those who are rearing pigs or chicken are the buyers of this,” said Congress MLA Taraprasad Bahinipati.
Congress MLA Ashok Das said, “Will the children of the members of the matru committee engaged for distribution of ‘chhatua’ eat it? Will the children of government officers who are giving clearance eat it?”
BJD MLA Ganeswar Behera said, "BJD is never afraid of investigation. Rather, it welcomes it.”
