3,000 kg school milk powder diverted, sold in open market; FIR filed in Jaipur
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
An FIR has been registered at Samod police station in Jaipur after nearly 3,000 kg of government-supplied milk powder, intended for students under the Pannadhay Bal Gopal Yojana, was allegedly diverted and sold in the open market. The complaint was lodged by the Rajasthan Cooperative Dairy Federation (RCDF) on 30 July, following the detection of irregularities in the state's mid-day meal milk powder supply chain.
How the Diversion Came to Light
Acting on a tip-off, police raided Chithwadi village in the Samod area of Chomu, Jaipur district, and seized a pickup truck loaded with the government-supplied milk powder. Three suspects were detained at the scene. The milk powder, according to officials, was meant exclusively for distribution to schoolchildren as part of the mid-day meal programme under the Pannadhay Bal Gopal Yojana.
RCDF Files Formal Complaint
The RCDF took serious note of the alleged black-marketing and formally filed a police complaint at Samod police station. In a statement, federation officials said: 'Treating the matter with utmost seriousness, the federation filed a police complaint in line with the state government's zero-tolerance policy against corruption and misuse of public resources.' A case has since been registered and an investigation is under way.
Government's Zero-Tolerance Stand
The incident surfaced shortly after Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma chaired a high-level review meeting at the Chief Minister's Office (CMO) on Wednesday, where he reiterated the administration's zero-tolerance stance on corruption. The Chief Minister directed all departments to ensure effective implementation of public welfare schemes and to expedite recruitment drives so that development works and public services remain unaffected.
The meeting was attended by Chief Secretary V. Srinivas, Additional Chief Secretary to the Chief Minister Akhil Arora, and senior officials from the Panchayati Raj, Local Self-Government, Urban Development and Housing, Energy, Public Works, Finance, and Rural Development departments.
What Happens Next
Authorities have stated that strict action will be taken against all those found guilty upon completion of the investigation. The RCDF has also initiated separate legal proceedings over the alleged illegal diversion. Notably, welfare scheme leakages of this nature — where commodities meant for school children are siphoned into commercial channels — have been a recurring challenge across multiple Indian states, making the outcome of this probe a marker for the administration's follow-through on its anti-corruption commitments.