SHILLONG, DEC 14: Embarrassed over the allegation by ngos that the Meghalaya social welfare department supplies substandard and unhealthy food items to children under the Integrated Child Development Service (ICDS) Meghalaya social welfare minister JA Lyngdoh assured the assembly that the state government will send the samples of all the foot items procured and distributed under the ICDS for ‘nutrient-analysis-test’.
Replying to a call attention notice moved by UDP legislator Ardent Basaiawmoit Friday Lyngdoh said, “Samples of all the foot items procured and distributed in the ICDS Centers will be send for nutrient analysis test at the National Institute of Nutrition, Hyderabad and Food and Nutrition Board, Eastern Region, Kolkata.”
Assuring that the government is taking serious note of the allegations and is now making all efforts to ensure that quality of food items supplied meets the required standards and are of good quality for consuming by the beneficiaries, Lyngdoh informed that earlier test reports of the analysis had not indicated that the foods supplied under Supplementary Nutrition Programme were sub-standard or unhealthy.
Informing that the department is adopting the supplementary food fortified with essential micro-nutrients as per the guidelines of the government of India and the directions of the Supreme Court, Lyngdoh informed that the department procures malted food, milk powder, biscuits and ready to eat noodles as non-conventional food items. Saying that these food items are not readily available in the open market and can be obtained only from the manufacturers, he said the law department was consulted before procuring these items directly from the manufacturers or market.
Lyngdoh also informed that that the department, however, had discontinued procuring and distributing of Ready-to-Eat Noodles and Kishlay biscuits with from the third quarter of 2010-2011 but continued procuring and distributing of milk powder and chocomalt (malted food).
Lyngdoh revealed that the milk powder and chocomalt are procured directly from the manufacturer – M/S Continental Milkose (India) Ltd as it would not lead to the violation of the order of the Supreme Court. – By Our Reporter
Oh Goodness me what a sickly answer. We are going to file an FIR against all those responsible….And we hope the Police have the guts to take them in…
It is a good company.