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The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Punjab is supplying sub-standard food products to pregnant and lactating women and children up to six years of age, former president of the Punjab Anganwadi Workers Association Hargobind Kaur has alleged. Claiming “rampant corruption”, Kaur alleged that the decision to remove the state cooperative Verka in favour of Markfed, which is blacklisted in Himachal Pradesh, was made because Verka refused to give kickbacks, Indian Express reported.
Baljit Kaur, Punjab Minister for the Department of Social Security and Development of Women and Children, dismissed these allegations as “baseless.”
The state government revised the list of food products about a year ago, introducing new items like ready-to-eat sweet dalia packs containing powdered milk and sugar, ready-to-eat salty dalia, and khichdi with millets. The panjiri provided now is made from refined oil instead of desi ghee, according to Hargobind Kaur. She said that these changes have not been well-received by the intended recipients, and despite repeated feedback from Anganwadi workers, no action has been taken.
Kaur, also president of the Istri Akali Dal, was recently dismissed from her Anganwadi job on what she describes as “flimsy grounds” for taking excess leave and campaigning for the Akali Dal. She views this as a political vendetta by the AAP government, aimed at silencing her as she raised her voice for women and children who have complained about the sub-standard food products.
Kaur alleged that Markfed is outsourcing the production of these food items to a blacklisted private company, while Verka has been sidelined. Earlier, Anganwadi workers received dry rations based on the Centre’s recommendations and would cook dalia and kheer at the centres, with Verka supplying panjiri on fixed days.
Kaur alleged that the changes have led to unemployment for helpers who used to prepare food like dalia and kheer at Anganwadi centres. She pointed out that the Congress government had also stopped Anganwadi ration in 2005 but was forced to restart it following workers’ agitation.
The minister denied the claims of working with a blacklisted company, and told Indian Express, “The allegation of giving work to a blacklisted company is baseless. Markfed is handling the entire food distribution work. The expense per child and woman is around Rs 10 a day, which is very little, but we are trying to provide the maximum we can bring in that budget.”
The minister said the government has sought additional funding from the Centre and explained the introduction of millets in some food items, including millet flour in panjiri. “In Punjab, people are used to eating wheat-based foods. Hence, we sought feedback and are working to resolve this issue. Refined oil is not used. It is a dry-roasted panjiri. We received feedback about adding desi ghee and have noted all suggestions. We are trying to make the necessary changes. Otherwise, nothing is sub-standard. So far, only Anganwadi workers have given us this feedback. We are open to suggestions, but the food quality is up to the mark,” she said.
Pregnant and lactating women receive a diet from the start of pregnancy until the baby is six months old, with a per-day charge of Rs 9.50. For children aged six months to 72 months (3 years), the cost of the diet is Rs 8 a day, increasing to Rs 12 a day for severely malnourished children of the same age group. Children up to 3 years old are provided with the diet at their homes, while those older than 3 and up to 6 years receive it at Anganwadi centres. The current diet plan includes ‘murmure’ (rice puff) along with other foods.
