Allegations are galore that low quality Sattu is supplied for pregnant women and children under Government programmes in Subarnapur district.
As per the guidelines, the types of Sattu for pregnant women and children are not to be identical as the ingredients that go into their preparation are different. Though the looks and labels on the packets distributed among women and children are different, the quality of the Sattu inside them is said to be the same. Obviously, this is being done by the manufacturers with an eye on profit.
The locals alleged that though some Self Help Groups (SHGs) are given the responsibility of manufacturing the staple diet, some mill owners are actually producing it. As per the guidelines, wheat, chickpeas, groundnuts, sugar etc should go into Sattu preparation, but the Sattu supplied to the Anganwadi Centres is alleged to be of low quality made from wheat, rice and a small amount of chickpeas.
The Government is providing Rs 36 for a kg of Sattu to the manufacturers. However, the manufactures are spending a very small amount and pocketing the rest.
Though several complaints have been lodged about the supply of low quality Sattu time and again, the question being asked is whether any inspection is initiated and if initiated, what is the report.
Morever, the supplied Sattu is seen infested with bugs most of the time. The locals of Meghla gram panchayat under Binka block expressed concern over the quality of Sattu and gave a memorandum to Block Chairman Ashok Nanda in this regard.
They wanted to know as to why the issue of low quality Sattu was not raised and discussed every year at block level committee.
Notably, a pregnant woman is given 5 kg Sattu a month from 5 months of gestation period till the child becomes 6 months’ old. Similarly, a child starts getting 4 kg when it becomes six months’ old and it continues to get it till it attains 3 years.