Following stringent measures taken by the State government, good quality eggs are being supplied to anganwadis in the State, Social Welfare Minister B Valarmathi told Express on Sunday.
When contacted over phone, the Minister said that the eggs supplied now are up to the mark, both in terms of size and weight.
The Minister herself had made visits to various districts recently and warned the suppliers to adhere to the standards.
Surprise inspections were being carried out by officials, including the district collectors, at the anganwadis to maintain the standards. Meetings in this connection were also being conducted, she said.
The stringent steps followed recent media reports that the eggs supplied by the traders were poor in quality. There were also incidents of children falling ill after taking rotten and sub-standard eggs in the neighbouring States.
“Under the rule of Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, every care will be taken to maintain the quality of eggs supplied to children thro-ugh the anganwadis,” the Minister added.
The noon-meal organisers manning a couple of anganwadis situated on the East Coast Road (ECR) also confirmed supply of quality eggs now.
The State government, to eliminate cartelisation in supply of eggs, had re-introduced its earlier system, with certain positive changes, for procurement of eggs for the noon meal scheme under the MGR Nutritious Meal programme.
Under the new system, a State-level single tender for procurement of eggs for one full year was notified, benefiting about 60 lakh under-privileged students in the State. Transparency, as envisaged under rule 31 of the TN Transparency in Tender Rules, is ensured.
The new system brought in force by a GO dated October 17 last year eliminated cartelisation of egg suppliers and ensured a stable price without any fluctuation. The new system ensured elimination of incompetent suppliers and supply of Agmark quality eggs.