The officials of the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Thursday, 29 February apprehended a former Child Development Project Officer (CDPO) on the charges of misappropriation of government funds amounting to Rs. 65,78,467, which was meant for the distribution of milk for tribal children.
The accused officer is identified as Anishetty Sridevi. She is presently working at the office of the Director of Women Development and Child Welfare, Hyderabad, and was a former CDPO (Child Development Project Officer), ICDS project, in Jainoor, Adilabad district.
A statement issued by the ACB said that a case of criminal misconduct has been filed against former CDPO Anishetty Sridevi. During her term as CDPO at the ICDS Project in Jainoor, Adilabad from 2015 to 2016, Sridevi performed her duties dishonestly and improperly, and misappropriated government funds amounting to Rs. 65,78,467, planned for the distribution of milk to innocent tribal children.
The statement further said that the officer is charged with abusing her official position, resorting to corrupt and unfair means to gain pecuniary benefits. This resulted in a corresponding loss to the government exchequer, as she allegedly created false statements for incurring expenses related to the Arogya Lakshmi milk supply for 322 Anganwadi centers.
The ACB arrested the accused officer on Thursday as part of an ongoing inquiry and she is set to be produced before the Principal Special Judge for SPE and ACB cases court at Karimnagar.
As per the official website of Women and Child Welfare of Telangana, the then-Chief Minister, and BRS chief K Chandrashekhar Rao officially launched the Arogya Lakshmi scheme on 1 January 2015. Under the Arogya Lakshmi scheme, everyday nutritious meals would be provided to pregnant and lactating women and children below the age of six through Anganwadi centers. For women 200 ml of milk for 25 days every month, each day one egg with a meal, and 100 ml curd for two days in a meal.
Children, between the age group of seven months to three years, are provided with 16 eggs a month in addition to a 2.5 kg food packet and for children in the age group of three to six years are provided with one egg in addition to rice, dal, vegetables, and snacks.
(Input from various sources)
(Rehash/Lavanya Beeraboina/MSM)