Anganwadi workers booked for stealing nutrition rations meant for children

An FIR has been registered against two Anganwadi workers in Sambhal district following the detection of a nutrition ration blackmarketing racket, culminating in formal criminal proceedings initiated under the direct orders of the district administration.

The case came to light on 19 September 2026 when Monika Goswami, the chief sevika of Gumthal Anganwadi centre, received information via telephone that nutrition ration meant for distribution at the Anganwadi centre of worker Manju Devi was being loaded onto a rickshaw and taken away for blackmarketing purposes. Acting immediately on the tip-off, the chief sevika rushed to Gumthal and conducted an inspection, where she discovered a rickshaw fully loaded with nutrition ration.

When Anganwadi worker Manju Devi was questioned regarding the consignment, she was unable to provide any clear explanation about the nutrition ration found in the rickshaw. A verification of the official records revealed further irregularities that pointed prima facie to embezzlement and record manipulation. The centre's receipt records showed that the entire nutrition ration quota had been fully distributed to beneficiaries, yet the ration was found physically present at the spot, clearly indicating misappropriation and falsification of distribution records.

Chief sevika Monika Goswami submitted a written report of the incident to Chandni Rani, the in-charge Child Development Project Officer. Based on the report, the in-charge Child Development Project Officer issued a show-cause notice to Manju Devi, seeking her explanation for the discrepancy. In her written reply, Manju Devi stated that the nutrition ration in question had been kept at her centre on 14 August 2026 by Shanti Devi, an Anganwadi worker at Pachak Anganwadi Centre-2, with the intention of blackmarketing. She further admitted that on 19 September 2026, the ration was being loaded onto a rickshaw and taken away for the purpose of illegal sale in the black market.

On the basis of the available evidence and documentary records in the case, in-charge Child Development Project Officer Chandni Rani forwarded the matter to the District Programme Officer, Chief Development Officer Gorakh Nath Bhatt, and District Magistrate Ankit Khandelwal, recommending necessary action for registration of an FIR against both the Anganwadi workers involved in the racket.

Chief Development Officer Gorakh Nath Bhatt and District Magistrate Ankit Khandelwal granted permission to register the FIR on 20 September 2026. In compliance with the approval, an FIR was formally lodged on 21 September 2026 against Manju Devi, Anganwadi worker at Gumthal, and Shanti Devi, Anganwadi worker at Pachak Anganwadi Centre-2.

District Programme Officer, ICDS, Mahesh Kumar stated that any form of irregularity, embezzlement or blackmarketing in the nutrition ration meant for distribution at Anganwadi centres will not be tolerated under any circumstances. He emphasised that strict action as per rules will be ensured in all such cases involving misappropriation of welfare supplies meant for beneficiaries.

District Magistrate Ankit Khandelwal has made it clear that if irregularity is found at any level in the distribution of nutrition ration provided to beneficiaries under the government's public welfare schemes, strict action will be taken against those responsible. The administration is conducting continuous monitoring of the functioning of Anganwadi centres and the distribution of nutrition ration across the district.

The action has been taken in pursuance of the directions issued by District Magistrate Ankit Khandelwal to ensure transparent arrangements and effective supervision of nutrition ration distributed at Anganwadi centres across Sambhal district. The district administration has reinforced its commitment to maintaining the integrity of welfare delivery systems and protecting the interests of intended beneficiaries, particularly children and mothers who depend on the Anganwadi nutrition programme.