JEYPORE: The Koraput administration has launched a probe into the alleged irregularities in the procurement of medicine and playing kits for anganwadi centres in the Bandhugaon block.
A two-member team comprising a deputy collector and a programme officer from the district social welfare department, investigated the allegations on Thursday. Koraput sub-collector Premlal Hial said the two-member team went to Bandhugaon child development project office to probe the alleged irregularities in procurement of anganwadi pre-school kits on Thursday. The team will submit a report to the district collector in two days.
Sources said the Woman and Child Development (WCD) department had sanctioned funds to purchase medicines and playing kits for anganwadi centres through the Bandhugaon child development project office. In January, around 221 anganwadi centres in Bandhugaon were allotted Rs 1,900 each for procuring playing kits and Rs 1,500 each for medicine kits for children under the ICDS project.
As per the guidelines, anganwadi workers must procure these kits based on their necessity and need not purchase them from any middleman or purchasing agency. But in March, child development project officer (CDPO) of Bandhugaon Geetanjali Moharana allegedly instructed the workers to purchase kits which were sourced by her office from an agency in Bhubaneswar. Workers were also reportedly asked to make payments after receiving the materials.
Sources said the anganwadi workers were allegedly coerced into accepting the office-supplied kits, despite concerns over their quality. Some workers initially refused to procure the kits. However, they eventually complied under pressure from the CDPO and supervisors, and withdrew funds from their accounts to pay for the materials. Subsequently, several workers brought the matter to the notice of the district administration following which the probe was launched.
CDPO Moharana denied her involvement in the procurement process.