Kesinga: Sattu packets prepared by women’s self-help groups (SHGs) under the department of Women and Child Development are being supplied free of cost to children, pregnant women, and mothers. However, substandard quality has forced the beneficiaries to sell the sattu at a price to interested traders. It is clearly mentioned on the sattu packets that those are ‘not for sale’.
However, to everyone’s surprise, beneficiaries are selling off sattu packets in broad daylight at Paralsing panchayat under this block in Kalahandi district. A trader was seen moving from village to village on a vehicle and buying sattu packets that weigh around 4.410 kg by paying Rs 50 per packet to the beneficiaries. This is not an isolated case as several traders were seen moving into villages and buying sattu from the beneficiaries. This is allegedly due to the substandard quality of sattu provided to the beneficiaries. The beneficiaries are not able to consume the sattu and sell it to interested traders.
Reports said that a packet of sattu costs around Rs 60 to 70 in the open market while the packets prepared by the women SHGs are supplied free of cost to the beneficiaries. Sources said that a local women SHG Dibyajyoti Mahila Mandal has been allegedly preparing substandard sattu and supplying packets to beneficiaries through the Anganwadi centres under the block.
After reports surfaced, a five-member team from the district administration met the president of the women SHG Geetanjali Dash, and directed her to prepare sattu as per prescribed quality and standard.
However, the SHG allegedly continued to distribute sub-standard sattu without heeding the order of the district administration. A beneficiary requesting anonymity said that the sattu is of substandard quality for which she sold it to the traders who later sell it as fodder for the livestock in the area. As per instruction, sattu has to be prepared to make a proper composition of chickpeas, sugar and groundnuts but the women SHG is allegedly preparing it with very less wheat and sugar. When contacted, child development project officer (CDPO) Mujibun Nisha said that sattu is being supplied to the beneficiaries for their consumption. She wondered what she can do if they sell it to traders. She, however, assured me to send the supervisor and conduct a probe in this regard.
