Red tape disrupts food supply to kids

NEW DELHI: For the past three months, Delhi government’s social welfare department has not been able to give food to children - below six years - and pregnant mothers, under a development programme. Officials blame it on bureaucratic red tape.
There are about four lakh children and 10,000 women who were covered under the scheme. They are supposed to get food at 4,000-odd Anganwadi centres.‘‘The target community groups have not been given supplementary diet since April,’’ a source said.
Supplementary nutrition is to be provided to all economically weaker sections under the Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS). Social Welfare department has not been able to give the supplementary diet as the tenders lapsed in March this year.
‘‘The fresh tenders were floated but no contractor was awarded the work,’’ the official said.
Social Welfare minister Raj Kumar Chauhan admitted, ‘‘The delay has been due to high rates in the bids for this year’s supply. There was re-negotiation and it has been cleared and the food will be reaching the kids again.’’