Arun Singh
Early Times Report
Jammu, Mar 10: The Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Scheme was launched decades ago with the sole motive to improve the nutritional and health status of children in the age-group 0-6 years, but several ICDS projects functioning across the Jammu district are facing acute shortfall of some nutritional items for the last many months as some suppliers have failed augment supply till date.
Sources told Early Times that in order to provide regular supply of nutritional items to the hundreds of Anganwaris running across Jammu district, District Administration had given an authorization to the competent suppliers, after tender process, for the procurement of nutritional items for the year 2014-15 under ICDS for district Jammu. "But it has been observed for the last many months that several ICDS projects running across the district are facing acute shortfall of some nutritional items due to non supply given by suppliers," they said further adding that at least five suppliers have been declared defaulters who failed to give supply of nutritional items approved by the District Level Purchase Committee. Giving the detail of five defaulters, sources said M/s Ishita Food Products Near Birpur Complex Bari Brahmana Jammu has failed to give supply of Haldi, Nutri Chunks, Seviyan Wheat roasted, M/s Surya Agencies, Satwari failed to give the supply Moongi Whole Grade 1 Green, Salt Double fortified, Sugar-A grade, M/s Alisha Enterprises, Gandhi Nagar has not given supply of Glucose Biscuits, M/s Jehlum Enterprises Amphalla failed to provide supply of Channa Whole Grade 1 Yellow, Soya Refined Oil and last supplier in the defaulter list is M/s Preeti Enterprises Rajouri has not given supply of Suji Granules A grade white. Astoundingly, despite issuance of several notices to these defaulter suppliers to provide supply of nutritional items at the earliest, but they have not complied with the orders till date as a result of with Anganwaris are not functioning properly due to shortage of food items.
Sources said that the ICDS projects which are affected due to non supply of nutritional items including Jammu, Kote Bhalwal, Akhnoor, Khour, Marh, Satwari, RS Pura, Bishnah, Dansal, Gandhi Nagar, Purmandal and Vijaypur,
They alleged that due to casual approach of the district administration for not taking stringent action against such defaulter suppliers, the ICDS is losing its main objectives which was established to lay the foundation for proper psychological, physical and social development of the child, to reduce the incidence of mortality, morbidity, malnutrition and school dropout, to achieve effective co-ordination of policy and implementation amongst the various departments to promote child development. |
