Date:10/01/2009 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2009/01/10/stories/2009011056200300.htm

Other States - Orissa

MDM rice found in mattress factory

Correspondent

CUTTACK: An enforcement squad of the district Civil Supplies department on Friday stumbled upon at least 3,000 quintals of rice meant for mid-day meal (MDM) for school students stored inside a mattress factory in Choudwar about 20 km from here.

District Civil Supply Officer Santosh Kumar Nanda, when contacted, said the rice actually belong to MDM scheme which is disbursed through district social welfare department.

“Initially we thought the factory owner was hoarding the rice.

But when the social welfare department officials certified that the quantity of rice is accounted for, no case was registered or any arrest was made,” Mr Nanda said.

But Mr. Nanda failed to explain why such a huge quantity of rice was stored in a factory when a godown was located nearby.

“I don’t know whether the mattress factory was used as a transit godown,” Mr. Nanda said.