YSRCP Claims Massive Corruption in Andhra Pradesh Nutrition Schemes

At a media briefing held at the party’s central office, YSRCP state spokesperson Putta Siva Shankar Reddy let loose a barrage of accusations against the TDP‑run government in Andhra Pradesh. He said the administration’s nutrition programmes – meant for pregnant women, nursing mothers and tiny tots – have been turned into a money‑making racket.

According to Reddy, the problem starts with something as simple as an egg. The tender documents stipulate that every egg delivered to Anganwadi centres must weigh between 50 g and 70 g, a range considered essential for preventing anaemia and fostering healthy growth. Instead, he claims that politically linked syndicates are sending in “feather‑light” eggs that tip the scales at just 30–40 g. Supposedly these sub‑standard eggs are bought cheap from farms outside the state, yet the suppliers still manage to charge rates higher than those set by the National Egg Coordination Committee, plus an extra Rs 1‑1.10 per egg for transport. He even listed a handful of districts – West Godavari, Sri Sathya Sai, Kadapa, Nellore, Vizianagaram and Visakhapatnam – where eggs over 35 g are apparently nowhere to be found. The spokesperson grumbled that officials never actually weigh the deliveries, nor send monthly samples to Agmark labs for verification.

The saga doesn’t stop at eggs. Reddy pointed out that the price of the Balasanjeevani nutrition kit has been hiked from Rs 271 to Rs 446, a jump that, he says, translates into a scam worth nearly Rs 40 crore. The same four firms that landed the egg contracts, he alleges, also bagged contracts for 38 items supplied to Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas. And there’s a far bigger headline: a Rs 1,200‑crore alleged fraud in the supply of Balamrutham nutrition powder. He accused tender clauses of being bent to favour contractors with no real experience – some of whom, oddly enough, are in the business of making chikkis and jaggery.

In response, Reddy demanded swift action. He urged the government to cancel the Balamrutham tenders outright, to pull the plug on any egg supplier that can’t meet the 50‑gram threshold, and to prosecute and blacklist the guilty parties. “We cannot allow the health of 13.8 lakh children and 23 lakh mothers to be jeopardised for profit,” he warned, his tone mixing frustration with a hint of exasperation.

The YSRCP statement, which has not been edited by Asianet News editorial staff, adds another layer to the growing political tussle over welfare schemes in the state. Whether these claims will spark investigations or be dismissed as political grandstanding remains to be seen.