Orissa frames new procurement policy for MDM, SNP and EFP

Bhubaneswar, Feb 4 (PTI) After the Vigilance departmentfound irregularities in the supply of pulses for the mid-daymeal scheme and supplimentary nutrition programme, theOrissa government today decided to further decentralise thesystem of procurement of dal, oil and other condiments toschools and anganwadi centres.

The new procurement policy would be effective fromApril 1, an official at the chief minister''s office said.

"There has been irregularities in the supply of dalunder MDM and SNP," Vigilance director Anup Patnaik said.

The Vigilance department also found that substandard and"inedible" dal were supplied to different schools andanganwadi centres.

The government had been providing free food under MDM,SNP and emergency feeding programme (EFP).

Under the new policy, the procurement of dal, oil andother condiments for SNP and EFP will now be done at theAnganwadi Centre Level by two member committee consisting ofanganwadi workers and the ward members, it said.

At the school level, procurement of dal, oil and othercondiments for MDM scheme will be done by the schoolmonitoring committee. "Funds will now be directly given toAnganwadis and schools instead of district collectors," theysaid.

Village level and surveillance committees will beconstituted consisting of members of the Mothers Committee,women self-help groups which will supervise the procurementand supply of food items to the children.

Vigilance and surveillance committee will also be setup at the block and district levels.

One egg on the fixed day every week will also beprovided under the SNP in Anganwadi centres along with the hotcooked meal.