- Egg Supply in Women and Child Welfare Department
- Old Contractors Sparks Controversy
- Delay in Tender Process Raises Eyebrows
Article Today, Hyderabad
Allegations of serious irregularities have surfaced in the egg supply process managed by the Telangana Women and Child Welfare Department. The department is reportedly delaying the selection of new contractors and continuing to favour existing suppliers despite their contracts having expired.
Every year, tenders worth over Rs.36 crore are to be issued for the supply of eggs to nearly 35,700 Anganwadi centres across the state. However, the tenders floated in March this year appear to have been designed to favour the old contractors. Poultry farmers have raised strong objections, yet the department has extended the tender submission deadline three times without revising the tender terms.
Critics allege that this deliberate delay and the continued favouring of previous contractors point to deep-rooted collusion and corruption within the system. With the tenders scheduled to open on June 17, there is growing public suspicion about whether the process will proceed fairly or face further postponement.
Preference to Old Contractors Sparks Controversy
Despite the expiry of existing contracts over two months ago, the department has officially allowed the same contractors to continue supplying eggs until the end of June. This decision has been labelled arbitrary and highly irregular. Additionally, the department has recently increased the egg procurement price to ₹6, aligning it with open market prices.
Poultry farmers argue that this price revision primarily benefits the old contractors rather than providing support to the farmers themselves. They express frustration that new and eligible poultry suppliers are being systematically excluded while the department allegedly misuses its authority to shield favoured vendors.
The Women and Child Welfare Department, which is responsible for providing nutritious food to pregnant women and children under the Arogya Lakshmi scheme, now finds itself under criticism for turning into a platform for vested interests. Even though the Chief Minister had reportedly advised an extension of the tender timeline to ensure wider participation, the refusal to amend the tender conditions raises serious concerns about the department’s intent.
Will the Tenders Open or Face Another Delay?
There is uncertainty over whether the tenders will actually be opened on June 17 as scheduled or whether the department will once again extend the deadline. The consistent bias towards old contractors, the unexplained delays, and the lack of transparency have led to growing allegations that certain officials and political figures are directly supporting these irregularities.
Farmers are particularly disheartened by the government’s failure to address their concerns, which they believe is damaging the reputation of the administration. Poultry farmers are now demanding that the tender terms be revised to ensure equal opportunities for all eligible suppliers. The situation has raised pressing questions about governance, accountability, and the fair use of public funds in the procurement process.
