Karnataka State Food Commission Chairperson H. Krishna chairing a review meeting with district officials at the Deputy Commissioner’s office in Kalaburagi.
| Photo Credit: ARUN KULKARNI
Karnataka State Food Commission Chairperson H. Krishna has directed the district administration to rectify all deficiencies found during the commission’s three-day inspection tour of Kalaburagi district and ensure effective implementation of the National Food Security Act.
He warned that disciplinary action will be taken against officials who fail to properly execute government programmes.
Addressing a review meeting with district officials at the Deputy Commissioner’s office here recently, Mr. Krishna said that the commission has received widespread complaints about Anna Bhagya rice being diverted and illegally sold in the open market.
“The commission has come to Kalaburagi specifically to examine these complaints,” he said.
Mr. Krishna, along with other members of the commission, toured Kalaburagi city and several taluks between November 26 and 28, inspecting wholesale godowns, anganwadis, schools, hospitals, petrol pumps, Raitha Samparka Kendras and hostels.
“We found several serious irregularities. Deputy Commissioner Fouzia Tarannum and the Zilla Panchayat CEO have been directed to take immediate corrective measures,” he said.
Discrepancies
During an inspection of the KFCSC wholesale godown here, the commission found a mismatch of 53 quintals of rice between physical and online stock records, while a rural wholesale depot showed 20 quintals excess stock.
A depot in Shahabad taluk had 12 quintals excess rice. “If records are maintained properly, how can such huge discrepancies occur?” Mr. Krishna asked
At an anganwadi in Gazipura, he found eggs meant for pregnant women withheld instead of being distributed. In the Government Urdu Higher Primary School at Adarsh Nagar, the commission detected 1.5 quintals of rice in excess of the recorded stock and observed that Ksheera Bhagya and mid-day meal programmes are not being implemented properly.
At the Chennabasaveshwar High School in Jagruti Colony, eggs had not been distributed to children for a month. “How will we address malnutrition if eggs and nutritional supplements are not given to pregnant women and children?” he asked.
Pulled up
At the Lahoti Petrol Pump in the city, the commission conducted density and fire-safety checks and observed that the outlet lacked basic amenities such as drinking water and toilets for customers. The officials were instructed to ensure these facilities immediately.
Inspections at fair price shop Nos 144 (Bapu Nagar) and 142 (Sundar Nagar) revealed serious violations leading Mr. Krishna to order the suspension of their dealership licence.
The dealer of Fair Price Shop No 178 on Azadpur Road was issued a show-cause notice for multiple lapses.
Staff face action
During a surprise inspection at the Gulbarga Institute of Medical Sciences (GIMS), the commission found that in-patients were not being provided eggs and tea/coffee as mandated.
After interacting with patients, Mr. Krishna said that most of them were poor and depended on the hospital for nutrition.
“Failing to provide basic nutritional support to such patients is unacceptable,” he said, instructing the hospital director to suspend the dietician responsible.
Additional Deputy Commissioner Rayappa Hunasgi, Food and Civil Supplies Department in-charge Deputy Director Munavar Daula, Agriculture Deputy Director Anusuya Hoogar, DDPI Suryakant Madane, Legal Metrology Assistant Controller Rafiq Ladji and officials from various departments attended the meeting.
Published – December 02, 2025 07:53 pm IST
