In the Koraput district, there have been numerous anomalies and the theft of grains intended for the midday meal programme in schools, which has led to a dispute between the BJP and the Congress. OTV previously aired a story on similar egregious violations in a number of schools in the districts of Koraput, Bolangir, Sundargarh, and Sambalpur.
A BJP politician from Koraput district named Gautam Samantaray said Congress MLA Tara Prasad Bahinipati was involved in the scandal at a press conference held in Jeypore.
“It is regrettable that the MLA is presenting a clean bill of health in the Assembly, which indicates there is some nexus. The MLA must be included in the investigation, according to Samantaray.
Rice worth lakhs of rupees was allegedly stolen by supply brokers and officials who are in charge of providing it to the schools. It’s interesting to note that the school administration missed the errors and received the rice bags without properly measuring them.
If after a thorough investigation no action is done against two contract firms, the BJP leader has vowed to hold a protest in front of the Collectorate.
The School and Mass Education administration has since replaced the Cluster Resource Center Coordinators (CRCCs) of the districts of Bolangir and Koraput, respectively, on suspicion of MDM Scheme irregularities. In both districts, the Data Entry Operators who were employed under the programme at the block level have also been let go.
Congress MLA Tara Prasad Bahinipati responded to the BJP leader’s accusations by saying, “People in the constituency know whether I accept any bribe or not. The State government did not create a committee until I brought it up.
“The BJP needs to present proof of the charges,” Bahinipati continued. I will be open to whatever the probe reveals. If anything is proven against me, I’ll leave politics.
Prasanta Patnaik 
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