The opposition Congress on Tuesday alleged corruption in the Poshan-Aahar or Supplemental Nutrition Scheme under the Women and Child Development Department, citing the Madhya Pradesh Accountant General (AG) report, in which the vehicles mentioned as trucks turned out to be motorcycles and cars. Comparing the alleged irregularities in the scheme and distribution of ration with the infamous Bihar fodder scam, the Congress demanded the resignation of Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, who heads the Women and Child Development Department. Madhya Pradesh Home Minister and state government spokesperson Narottam Mishra said the AG’s report is an opinion and not “the final truth.
“As per the report, till 2021, 4.05 MT Take-Home Ration (THR) was distributed to 1.35 crore beneficiaries amounting to Rs 2393.21 crore. It specifically stated that the registration number of trucks mentioned in the records of transportation of food items On checking through the ‘Vahan’ portal of the Transport Department, motorcycles, cars, autorickshaws, tractors and tankers came out.”
Verma alleged that none of the registration numbers mentioned in the records were found of the truck. The report said that as per records the food items were supplied from plants located at Badi, Dhar, Mandla, Rewa, Sagar and Shivpuri. However, scrutiny of these records revealed that ration stock was not available at these places. Mishra claimed.
Congress leaders wondered why “scams happen in departments headed by CM Chouhan”. He compared the alleged scam with the fodder scam in Bihar, in which registration numbers of vehicles listed as trucks were found to be fake and registration numbers of scooters and other vehicles.
Home Minister Mishra told reporters that the AG’s report is only an opinion and it is a part of the (audit) process. “The audit report is scrutinized by the state government and cannot be said to be a final conclusion. The report will also be examined by the Public Accounts Committee of the state assembly. Many a times, a member of the opposition is the chairman of the panel and at that level The report is also examined.”
“It is wrong to say that the report is a final (conclusion). During investigation everything is discussed and paragraphs are also removed. I have seen it, the home minister said. Addressing a press conference in Indore. Former minister and Congress MLA Jitu Patwari alleged that ration worth Rs 111 crore was distributed only on paper.
“When Madhya Pradesh was in the grip of the pandemic, there was a scam in ration distribution (under the ‘Poshan Aahar’ scheme),” he alleged. Patwari and Verma demanded a probe by an “impartial agency” and said they would take up the matter in the winter session of the state assembly.
Congress has asked 13 questions to the state government regarding the ‘scam’ in ration distribution.
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