‘Govt scheme material for anganwadis diverted’

Canacona: Gaondongrim sarpanch has alleged that material worth Rs 15 lakh, which was obtained under the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana (PMKSY) for various anganwadis of Gaondongrim in Canacona, has been diverted elsewhere. The sarpanch, Yeshwant (Dhillon) Dessai, has threatened to write to the PMO, seeking the Prime Minister’s intervention in the matter. Dessai said that these material were obtained for a water conservation initiative ‘pani adwa, pani jirva’ to be distributed to anganwadis. These different materials have been lying unutilised in the agriculture department’s office for more than six months, Dessai said.Panchayat member and chairman of PMKSY of the village committee, Ashok Velip, said that he had submitted a list of anganwadis to the zonal agriculture office (ZAO) but the material, which should have been distributed to the anganwadis, has been given to temples and cooperative societies.“This was done acting on political dictates,” said Dessai, adding, “None of the anganwadis listed by the village committee got the material and many of the heads of the anganwadis concerned were asking the panchayat about the materials.” When questioned, state assembly speaker and local MLA Ramesh Tawadkar said it is for the agriculture department to decide to whom to give the materials.