<p>Tarikere, Chikkamagaluru: Around 80 bags of wheat that had been buried near the Kittur Rani Channamma Residential School at H Rangapura (Doranalu) have been discovered, and officials from the Social Welfare Department have launched an investigation.</p><p>Officials suspect that the wheat was buried nearly two years ago and are probing the reasons behind it.</p><p>Based on information that wheat sacks had been illegally buried near the H Rangapura residential school, S Shivamurthy, Vice-President of the Vishwamanava Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar Rakshana Vedike, had filed an application under the Right to Information (RTI) Act on February 17 seeking details.</p><p>He had sought details on how much food grain has gone to waste since 2023, and how was it disposed of? In response, the Public Information Officer of the District Social Welfare Department had stated on February 24 that “no items such as rice, wheat, or ragi had gone to waste, and food was served to students as per the menu chart.”</p><p>On March 13, Shivamurthy submitted a complaint to the Deputy Commissioner, Chief Executive Officer of the Zilla Panchayat, and the Deputy Director of the Social Welfare Department, alleging that 70 to 80 sacks of wheat had been illegally buried and stating that the location could be shown if an investigation was conducted. </p>.Illegally stored 400 kg rice meant for Anna Bhagya seized in Byndoor taluk .<p>Following this, the Social Welfare Department Deputy Director Malathi appointed District Coordination Officer Rajappa as the inquiry officer. Rajappa visited the site and had the area excavated. Wheat sacks were found after digging about four feet. All the sacks have been retrieved, and officials are continuing the investigation.</p><p>The residential school principal has reported to higher authorities that more than 50 wheat sacks have been found, but these do not belong to the 2025–26 stock. </p><p>Shivamurthy has alleged that the wheat supplied by the government for children’s meals during the 2023–24 academic year was stored during the summer vacation and allowed to spoil. He further claimed that around 80 sacks were buried without informing either the Food Department or the Social Welfare Department and demanded strict action against those responsible.</p><p>Responding to the issue, Social Welfare Department Deputy Director Malathi said, “An investigation has been ordered following the complaint. The Officer is conducting the inquiry and has not yet submitted the report. Once the report is received, details such as why the wheat was buried and the exact number of sacks will be known.”</p>
<p>Tarikere, Chikkamagaluru: Around 80 bags of wheat that had been buried near the Kittur Rani Channamma Residential School at H Rangapura (Doranalu) have been discovered, and officials from the Social Welfare Department have launched an investigation.</p><p>Officials suspect that the wheat was buried nearly two years ago and are probing the reasons behind it.</p><p>Based on information that wheat sacks had been illegally buried near the H Rangapura residential school, S Shivamurthy, Vice-President of the Vishwamanava Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar Rakshana Vedike, had filed an application under the Right to Information (RTI) Act on February 17 seeking details.</p><p>He had sought details on how much food grain has gone to waste since 2023, and how was it disposed of? In response, the Public Information Officer of the District Social Welfare Department had stated on February 24 that “no items such as rice, wheat, or ragi had gone to waste, and food was served to students as per the menu chart.”</p><p>On March 13, Shivamurthy submitted a complaint to the Deputy Commissioner, Chief Executive Officer of the Zilla Panchayat, and the Deputy Director of the Social Welfare Department, alleging that 70 to 80 sacks of wheat had been illegally buried and stating that the location could be shown if an investigation was conducted. </p>.Illegally stored 400 kg rice meant for Anna Bhagya seized in Byndoor taluk .<p>Following this, the Social Welfare Department Deputy Director Malathi appointed District Coordination Officer Rajappa as the inquiry officer. Rajappa visited the site and had the area excavated. Wheat sacks were found after digging about four feet. All the sacks have been retrieved, and officials are continuing the investigation.</p><p>The residential school principal has reported to higher authorities that more than 50 wheat sacks have been found, but these do not belong to the 2025–26 stock. </p><p>Shivamurthy has alleged that the wheat supplied by the government for children’s meals during the 2023–24 academic year was stored during the summer vacation and allowed to spoil. He further claimed that around 80 sacks were buried without informing either the Food Department or the Social Welfare Department and demanded strict action against those responsible.</p><p>Responding to the issue, Social Welfare Department Deputy Director Malathi said, “An investigation has been ordered following the complaint. The Officer is conducting the inquiry and has not yet submitted the report. Once the report is received, details such as why the wheat was buried and the exact number of sacks will be known.”</p>
