In a blow to BJP govt in Maharashtra, SC cancels food contracts worth ₹6,300 crore

In a severe blow to the Devendra Fadnavis government, the Supreme Court has annulled tenders amounting to ₹6,300 crore issued in 2016 by the Maharashtra Women and Child Development Department for supplying ‘Take Home Ration’ as supplementary nutrition at anganwadis in Maharashtra.

The apex court observed that some of the technical and financial conditions introduced by the Fadnavis government in the tender notice were arbitrary and favoured big players and industrialists in the field, at the cost of women self-help groups (SHGs).

The SC decision is a major setback for Pankaja Munde, Women and Child Development Minister. While Munde has been facing criticism from the Opposition parties over the food contract, Chief Minister of Maharashtra Devendra Fadnavis had earlier denied allegations of corruption raised against Munde, reported The Indian Express

Women and Child Development Ministry had issued the consolidated tender on March 8, 2016, after securing a nod from the State Cabinet on February 23, 2016.

Tender was allotted contracts for supply of ‘Take Home Ration’ to anganwadis for five years, which could be extended for two more years.

Vaishnorani Mahila Bachat Gat, which is the petitioner in the case, had objected to the insistence of extrusion-based technology for the manufacture of the ‘Take Home Ration’ mixtures and the condition regarding annual financial turnover in the tender notice, arguing that it effectively ruled out local SHGs from participating in the tender, and created a monopoly of sorts for a handful of big companies.