A rice shortage has disrupted meals at most of the nearly 230 Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) centres in Howrah’s Shyampur II block, leaving children and pregnant women without the usual rice-based khichudi or rice meals for about a week, according to a report by Sangbad Pratidin – Bengal.
The centres are currently providing dal, vegetables and eggs instead. Anganwadi workers said the shortage has prevented them from preparing the meals normally served under the ICDS programme, which provides supplementary nutrition to children and pregnant women.
The disruption is reported across a large part of Shyampur II block. Administrative sources cited in the report said the area has around 230 ICDS centres, with most of them facing the problem. Parents have expressed dissatisfaction over the repeated menu, while beneficiaries are waiting for the regular rice-based meals to resume.
An anganwadi worker, who was not named, said the problem had first emerged towards the end of the previous month and continued into the beginning of the current month. The worker said staff had repeatedly contacted those responsible for supplying rice but had not received a clear response. According to the worker, some officials allegedly did not answer calls, leaving centre staff unable to restore the normal meal programme.
The reported shortage has also affected meals for pregnant women. Although dal, vegetables and eggs continue to be provided, anganwadi workers said the absence of rice has meant that they cannot prepare khichudi or rice-based food for the beneficiaries. The workers have informed the Child Development Project Officer about the situation.
Administrative sources attributed the disruption to a breakdown in the supply process. According to the report, the district administration is expected to send a requisition for rice to the food department, after which the department supplies the stock. In this case, officials said there may have been a delay in sending the requisition, resulting in the rice not being dispatched on time.
The account has raised allegations of inadequate coordination between the district administration, the food department and the department responsible for child and women’s welfare. The food department and the child and women’s welfare authorities have assured that the problem will be resolved quickly. The administration has said the supply issue is expected to be cleared from Monday.
The disruption has also drawn criticism from local political representatives. Atiar Rahman Khan, a local Congress leader, said ICDS centres were established to provide nutritious food to children but had failed to serve rice or khichudi for several days. His statement was reported in connection with the shortage.
The immediate administrative milestone is the promised restoration of rice supplies from Monday. Until then, the continuation of the alternative menu remains dependent on the stock available at individual ICDS centres.
