Food for Starving Children Sold As Feed for Livestock

When this issue was brought to the attention of Varsha Eknath Gaikwad, the Women and Child Development minister of Maharashtra she promised action against whoever found guilty. She said "I have not yet received any complaint but since you have done a sting operation I am happy that I have come to know what is going on in Thane district and we will take action against the CDPO, the supervisor and the sevika who is working there and we will ensure this will not take place anywhere else in Maharashtra. We are tackling malnutrition in Maharashtra and we want the state to be malnutrition free. We will not tolerate these things and we will definitely take action."

The opposition has started reacting to this serious issue. Sudhir Mungantiwar, The State BJP President said, "The benifit of our schemes should go to those malnourished. But it is true that there are many places like Melghat, Nandurbar and Dhulia where the money is misused. And it is of no use asking this government - a government which can snatch land meant for the Kargil war widows, a government which can eat away children playgrounds, a government which can eat away the food meant for malnourished people. I think it is of no use expecting anything from this government".

This is really a sad scenario in the country. There has to be serious actions against this shameful and terrible malpractice. The Bombay High Court has criticized the state for its apathy and inaction.

Unless these evil malpractices are properly controlled the districts like Thane will always remain at the bottom and the country fights against poverty and malnutrition will become futile.