RTI reveals abuse of court orders in ICDS purchases
18 Nov, 2012The data provided in a reply to an application under the Right to information (RTI) Act seeking information regarding purchases done by Madhya Pradesh government in the implementation of the centrally funded Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS), has revealed that there might be existing a nexus of corrupt officials and business houses.
The data shows that despite the Supreme Court orders to keep the private players out of ICDS, there have been purchases from them. Initially the department of child and women development gave MPAICL (Madhya Pradesh Agro Industries Corporation Limited) the contract for the supply of energy food in June 2008.
The reply revealed purchases from two joint venture companies -JVS Foods Pvt. Ltd, Jaipur and M/s Murliwalla Agrotech Pvt. Ltd, New Delhi. It also showed that the tenure of the agreement with state agro Industries Corporation was extended for three years in November, 2011 and finally for another five years which usually should be one year. Alleging a fraud of Rs. 600/- crores, activists have approached the high court seeking a CBI inquiry into the pilferage.