State-wide raids conducted by the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau at Supplyco packing centres, Maveli stores and ration shops revealed large scale corruption and adulteration in the Onam kit meant for free distribution.
Complaints were received by the Vigilance Director Anil Kant about the anomalies in quantity and substandard quality of items being provided as part of the Kerala government’s Onam kit. It was also reported that the price printed on the packets were more than the market price. In several places, some of the items in the kit were found to be missing. Raids conducted revealed that quantity of jaggery as part of the kit was 50 to 100 gms short. Several packets did not even have manufacturing/packing/expiry dates.
Janam TV, a Kerala based news channel had exposed the packing of jaggery. The food safety department had then sent the jaggery for inspection.
It was reported that the jaggery distributed as part of the Kerala government’s ‘free Onam kit’ was adulterated. It was found that the different brands of jaggery brought from other states were made into one single brand. The packing took place two weeks ago in the auditorium of a private individual at Chemancherry Panchayat’s Thiruvangoor. This packet did not mention the date of manufacturing or expiry, a report by Janam TV said.
The food safety department officials also noted that the jaggery brought for distribution through Supplyco for Onam was inedible and unfit for human consumption.
Source: Janam TV