After the chikki scam, Pankaja Munde is embroiled in the supplementary nutritious food (SNF) scam.
After the Rs 265 crore alleged chikki scam, BJP minister Pankaja Munde has found herself at the centre of another storm. The Nationalist Congress Party on Thursday alleged her involvement in the Rs 12000 crore supplementary nutritious food (SNF) scam.
Addressing the media, NCP spokesperson Nawab Malik said Munde's women and child development department violated the tender processing norms. "She should immediately resign. Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis should get an inquiry conducted by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) into this scam," he added.
Munde's department issued a statement saying all allegations against the department and her are baseless.
Recently, the Aurangabad bench of Bombay High Court struck down the state's tenders worth Rs 12000 crore issued earlier in 2016 for purchase and supply of take-home ration after self-help groups complained of irregularities. The foodgrains and raw nutrition edibles have been given to pregnant women and aganwadi children.
The state women and child development ministry led by Munde had issued the tenders meant for the state's 10,000-plus anganwadis in February.
Malik said the tender conditions were designed to favour large companies and established syndicates of contractors only. "This scheme is for seven years; a year's expense on it is around Rs 928 crore. After every two years, there will be a rise of 25% in the tender cost. As per an apex court order, the government should decentralise the entire distribution process so that the small self-help groups will get the work," he said.
He added that the tender process issued by Munde's department was even opposed by the industry and finance department, and yet Munde went ahead with it. "The terms and conditions in the tender were so stringent that the small women's help groups would not be eligible. This was done intentionally just to favour the syndicates. Fadnavis should immediately sack her and initiate an inquiry against her," Malik said.
In 2015, Munde was mired in controversy for issuing tenders worth Rs 265 crore as she had allegedly violated the court's tendering procedure.
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