Karnataka: BJP alleges corruption in procurement of nutrition kits

Bengaluru: The government is procuring nutrition kits available for Rs 600 to Rs 900 each on the open market at Rs 2,600, alleged BJP Chief Whip N Ravi Kumar during question hour in the state legislature on Friday.

Alleging large-scale corruption, Ravikumar demanded a through investigation into the procurement of the kits, meant for the malnourished children of labourers.

The BJP Chief Whip, flashing a nutrition kit in the house, reminded the legislators that he had, as part of the state government in 2023-24, had procured the same kits for lower prices. “Those I procured cost anywhere between Rs 600 and Rs 900, but the Labour Department is procuring these paying Rs 2,600 per kit. The state government has allocated Rs 75 crore towards this scheme, and I suspect a large-scale racket in the procurement of these kits,” he added.

Labour Minister Santosh Lad, however, pointed out that the tender process for the scheme had been initiated during the tenure of the BJP government, while adding that the process had been completed in an entirely transparent manner.