The ACB said she created false statements for expenses related to the Arogya Lakshmi milk supply for 322 Anganwadi centres.
File photo of an anganwadi. (Supplied)
A former child development project officer (CDPO) currently working in the office of the director of the Women Development and Child Welfare Department of Telangana was arrested by officials of the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Thursday, 29 February, for misappropriating funds.
The money she was caught misappropriating was to be utilised for the distribution of milk to tribal children.
The officer allegedly misappropriated an amount of ₹65,78,467, which was meant to go towards the supply of Arogya Lakshmi milk for Anganwadi centres.
An ACB statement said a case of criminal misconduct has been filed against former CDPO Anishetty Sridevi, associated with the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) project in Jainoor in the Adilabad district.
It noted that she is currently serving in the Office of the director of Women Development & Child Welfare in Hyderabad.
Sridevi is accused of dishonestly and improperly executing her public duties during her tenure as CDPO at the ICDS Project in Jainoor from 2015 to 2016.
She allegedly misappropriated government funds amounting to ₹65,78,467 allocated for the distribution of milk to tribal children.
“The officer is accused of abusing her official position, resorting to corrupt and illegal means to gain pecuniary advantages. This resulted in a corresponding loss to the government exchequer, as she allegedly created false statements for incurring expenses related to the Arogya Lakshmi milk supply for 322 Anganwadi centres,” said the ACB.
The accused was arrested on Thursday as part of the ongoing investigation, and is set to be produced before the Principal Special Judge for SPE and ACB Cases Court in Karimnagar.
According to the Women and Child Welfare official website of Telangana, the Arogya Lakshmi scheme was launched officially on 1 January, 2015, by BRS chief and then-chief minister K Chandrashekar Rao.
The highlights of the scheme were that Arogya Lakshmi nutritious meals would be provided to pregnant and lactating women every day. They would include 200 ml of milk for 25 days every month, one egg each day with a meal, and 100 ml curd for two days in a meal.
It also envisioned 16 eggs per month and 2.5 kg of food packets for children aged between 7 months and 3 years.
It also called for one egg per day with rice, dal, vegetables, and snacks for children aged between 3 years and 6 years.
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