Odisha Assembly Speaker Orders Quality-Check On Chhatua & Action Against Erring Agencies

Bhubaneswar: Speaker of the Odisha Legislative Assembly Surama Padhy on Saturday directed Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida to take action against agencies providing inferior quality ‘Chhatua’ and block and gram panchayat levels.

The Speaker’s directions came after MLAs across party lines raised concerns on the quality of Chhatua produced and distributed in the state under supplementary nutrition programme.

In response to Padhy’s directives, Parida—who also oversees the portfolio of Women and Child Development—announced the formation of committees to oversee the Chhatua production process.

Earlier in the day, MLAs – Sanjali Murmu of Bangriposi and Sidhant Mohapatra of Digapahandi requested an answer from the Minister regarding the measures being taken to inspect the quality of chhatua.

Parida responded by saying that one SHG is involved for this work in each block (per programme). “If there are more number of Anganwadis in a block, then the Collector can employ upto two SHGs to inspect the chhatua making process,” said the minister.