Decisions are being implemented in that department without the knowledge of the minister. Recently, the tenders related to the purchase of benches were stopped by the officials without the knowledge of the minister Seethakka, and this issue is currently becoming controversial. Secretariat sources say that there is currently a cold war between the minister and the IAS in the Women and Child Welfare Department.
This row is likely to reach the notice of Chief Minister Revanth Reddy soon. Presently, the Women and Child Welfare Department has called for tenders to purchase 40,000 benches for Anganwadis. It is in this context that four companies participated in the tender. It is learned that these companies were not eligible and these tenders were stopped by the Principal Secretary of that department.
With this, some people brought the matter of the stoppage of tenders to the attention of the Minister Seethakka. When Minister Seethakka asked the concerned IAS about this, it is learned that they gave a negligent answer. In addition, it is learned that the Principal Secretary told Minister Seethakka that he took this decision as per the orders received from the CMO.
However, when the Minister asked why the suspension of tenders was not brought to her attention and why she was not told when he received a call from the CMO, it is learned that the Principal Secretary of the department gave a careless reply. It is learned that Minister Seethakka expressed her anger at the IAS for officials in his department taking decisions without her knowledge.
It is noteworthy that the IAS officer is taking decisions in that department without the knowledge of the Minister, and that this has happened in the past as well. It is learned that Minister Seethakka has decided to bring this matter to the attention of the Chief Minister Revanth Reddy soon.
There are approximately 35,000 Anganwadis in the state, and the government has decided to distribute 40,000 benches to the respective Anganwadis. It is against this backdrop that the Women and Child Welfare Department called these tenders. The issue of egg tenders has also been controversial in the past.