Sambalpur: Children and pregnant women are allegedly getting low-quality sattu from Anganwadi centres in 18 panchayats under Jujumura block in Sambalpur district.
The beneficiaries are using the food as cattle feed, reports said.
The government’s objective of distributing sattu is to provide nourishment for children aged between one and six and pregnant women.
Some selected self-help groups (SHGs) are preparing sattu while Anganwadi centres would distribute the food to children and pregnant women.
Some local people alleged that the sattu being distributed in Jujumura block is of inferior quality.
After Odia daily Dharitri published the news in its Sambalpur edition December 2, 2018, the district administration ordered the Child Development Programme Officer to conduct an inquiry and file a report.
Though CDPO asked for the report two months ago, no action has yet been taken, it was alleged.
Locals alleged that SHGs, employees and officers are involved in the unholy nexus to produce substandard sattu.
There are 198 Anganwadi and mini-Anganwadi centres in 18 panchayats of Jujumura block. About 3,000 children and women are getting sattu from these centres. However, none of them is taking sattu because of its substandard quality.
Haripriya SHG in Gadgadbahal village and an SHG in Kabarapali village in Jujumura block are manufacturing the sattu. Wheat, groundnut, sugar and gram are used for making sattu. But their proportion is compromised by these two SHGs, locals alleged.
Hence, sattu has lost its original taste and nutritional value, they pointed out.
With children and women not consuming the low- quality sattu, it is being used as cattle feed in this block.
Locals demanded the quality of sattu should be examined by a government organization.
When contacted, District Social Welfare Officer Geetanjali Mohapatra said the inquiry is on and the CDPO has been asked to file a report.
Action will be taken according to the finding of the report, Mohapatra added.
PNN
