Shillong, Nov. 15: Does a “Yummy Ready-To-Eat Noodles” help improve the nutritional and health status of children in the age group of 0-6 years? According to the Meghalaya social welfare department, it apparently does, although the monosodium glutamate (MSG) content in the noodles is quite high, which is harmful for children.

Apart from violating a 2009 Supreme Court order where state governments had been directed to ensure that only hot cooked meals are provided to children aged between three and six, Meghalaya has also violated another apex court order by allowing manufacturers/contractors to supply food items to Anganwadi centres under the centrally-sponsored Integrated Child Development Scheme.

These facts became known today when self-help groups, along with social organisations, met state chief secretary, W.M.S. Pariat to air their concern over a government tender notice which apparently aims to throttle self-help groups to benefit manufacturers/contractors in the supply of food items to Anganwadi centres.

A Supreme Court order in 2006 stated that “contractors shall not be used for supply of nutrition in Anganwadis and preferably ICDS funds shall be spent by making use of village communities, self-help groups and mahila mandals for buying of grains and preparation of meals”.

Since the inception of the ICDS, feeding components in the Anganwadi centres had been in the grip of large private suppliers, who, in collusion with the state, managed to abuse their contract both in terms of quality and quantity.

After the Supreme Court orders were issued, from 2007 onwards for at least two years, local people’s groups like self-help ones and non-governmental organisations were sought to be involved in the supply of food items to ICDS centres.

The state social welfare department is, however, allegedly not creating local menus and procurement of locally-produced food items, forcing the groups to merely procure foodstuff from specified big private distributors.

The purpose of involving the local community was also to enhance income generation for small groups.

In 2009, this system was altered and the state government curtailed the involvement of local groups in procurement and preparation of supplementary nutrition for the ICDS programme.

The government started providing Choco Malt, Milkose milk substitute as well as Yummy Ready to Eat Noodles as supplementary nutrition under ICDS.