Unicef gave packed imported food without nod: Government

NEW DELHI - Unicef supplied imported packaged food at some places in Madhya Pradesh and Bihar during flood relief operations without the government’s approval, the Lok Sabha was told Monday.

The international aid body did this “in contravention of the government guidelines”.

In a written reply, Minister of Women and Child Development Krishna Tirath said: “Unicef had procured and supplied ready-to-use therapeutic food (RUTF) called Plumpy Nut in Madhya Pradesh’s Khalwa block and the Kosi flood affected areas of Bihar between September 2008-May 2009 without any request or approval of the government of India.”

The minister added that when asked about this, the UN body did not give a satisfactory reply.

“…Unicef was conveyed that the mandate on declaration of emergency in any part of the country rests with the Indian government and not with Unicef,” she said.

RUTF, or sprinklers as they are also known, are not acceptable under government regulations.

The minister said that Unicef was asked to “ship the supplies out of the country by June 15, 2009 and restore the equivalent value of RUTF supplies to the GOI-UNICEF India Country Programme for Child Development and Nutrition 2008-12″. An amount of $880,000 has been restored to the fund.

Unicef was also asked to stop all activities relating to child development and nutrition till issues relating to procured supplies are clarified and the Annual Work Plan for 2009 is approved.

The minister added that Unicef has confirmed it has discontinued the use of RUTF and that there would be no imports of the product unless there is an official request from the Indian government.

“They have also assured their full compliance in this regard,” she added.