By B S Reporter
The removal of IAS officer Samit Sharma from post of women and child development secretary has opened up a fresh dispute. Sharma, who handles social justice and empowerment department, was given additional charge of women and child development (WCD) after the retirement of Dinesh Yadav, last month.
As the story unfolds, the ‘taking back' of additional charge from Sharma happened when he recommended suspension of few officials over irregularities in the mid day meal scheme in Dholpur. His recommendations were based on report from Dholpur Collector Anil Kumar Agrawal, who alleged gross irregularities in the scheme. According to report, only 20-25 percent food items were supplied at most of the Aanganwaadis against the full payment.
Sharma sent the file recommending strict action against the officials involved. However, minister Mamta Bhupesh had some other ideas. She sent back file asking for a fresh enquiry by some other official. Sharma, on the hand refused to initiate any more enquiry, standing by the Collector's report. He flagged more such incidents in other parts of the state and sent the file to the minister. The file never came back to Sharma, who was asked to relinquish the additional charge.
The WCD provides free nutritious food across the state to about 28 lakh children.For this, a budget of Rs 1,000 crore has been set aside, which has some part paid by the Government of India as well. This is done through 62,000 centres and more than 3000 female supervisors and project officers have been appointed for it.
The BuckStopper, run by a group of seasoned journalists, holds the powerful accountable. The buck stops with them, as they cannot shrug off their official responsibilities.
