Now, stinking rice scam rules Solapur

SOLAPUR, APRIL 15: Even before the controversy kicked off by Rs 2 crore lavatories project in Solapur district dies out, the Solapur Zilla P...

SOLAPUR, APRIL 15: Even before the controversy kicked off by Rs 2 crore lavatories project in Solapur district dies out, the Solapur Zilla Parishad is rocked by allegations of misappropriation of about 3,252 metric tonnes of high quality rice meant for primary school children in the district.Zilla Parishad subject panel chairman Bharat Shinde has alleged that the rice dispatched under Central Government8217;s free rice scheme for school children in rural areas was sold in open market.

Shinde raised the issue at a recent ZP meeting alleging that the distributors who were assigned with contracts for the 1997-98, never supplied the rice to the schools. The rice, meant for first to fifth standard students, was instead sold in the open market.

The alleged irregularities by distributors in connivance with local supply department and education officials has put question mark on the continuation of the scheme, Shinde charged. The Central Government under its free-rice scheme supplies the district food supply wingwith 1084 metric tone high quality rice per month.

The schemes aims at spreading the spirit of education and to end child labour by strengthen strength of students in rural schools besides providing healthy diet to school children.

The FDO in turn deal out contracts to private agencies to distribute the rice to rural students registering 80 per cent attendance in three Kgs packets of the rice.

Speaking to The Indian Express, here on Monday, Shinde revealed that at least two distributors never supplied rice to the students for three months. The packets were sold in open market, he charged.

Shinde further alleged that the bags of rice packed by the distributors were also weighed less. 8220;I displayed a 2.75 kg pack in the House8221; Shinde said and added that in July last 4,889 students, in August 8,687 students and in September 8,439 students in Madha taluka were not given the rice. Similar was the situation in other talukas, he alleged.

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8220;We did air our grievances to FDO and education officer, but nonebothered,8221; Shinde lamented and said that even the quality of rice was not the same wherever it was distributed. The students were given inferior quality rice, the panel chairman alleged.

Signatures of school tacers were obtained without distributing the rice by the contractors, Shinde charged. Zilla Parishad Chief Officer D S Jhagade, when contacted, stated that block education officer have been asked to collect the data from all school centres about the rice distribution. It would then be forwarded to the supply wing for further action, he said.Additional District Collector Vasant Poreddiwar stated that no written complaint has reached him in this connection.

8220;If we get one we will initiate inquiry into that,8221; Poreddiwar said.Shinde, however, stated that as the issue was raised at the ZP general meeting, hence there was no need to file a formal complaint. 8220;The response from officials itself reflects the nexus,8221; Shinde alleged.