Shillong, June 28: Meghalaya government has decided to constitute an independent inquiry to look into the alleged rice scam under the ICDS scheme following the seizure of rice from Boko in neighbouring Assam.

“In the interest of ensuring that full transparency is there so that the people and the general public are fully satisfied, we will be constituting an inquiry commission into this issue also,” Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma told reporters here on Monday.

Stating that the process will start within a day or two, he said the inquiry committee would be headed by a retired judge and will be given 2-3 months time to submit its report on the matter.

He said people of the state have been asking about this issue and the government will be happy to give all the details as required by the people. This comes in the wake of the allegations made against the implementation of the supplementary nutrition programme (SNP) under the ICDS scheme after rice bags were seized from Boko in Assam.

According to him, there has been slight confusion on the subject as there are certain sections who may try to come out and twist the information and facts and try to look at only certain facts.

“Therefore, we want to be very transparent and we want to assure the people that there is no such scam or any kind of misappropriation that is taking place. So for their satisfaction, we are ready and we will be setting up an inquiry into this,” the CM said.

Mid-Day meal

On the matter of the rice sanctioned under the midday meal scheme in view of the closure of all the schools, the Chief Minister informed that the rice is being provided to children, although not in the school premises.

“I have received some pictures about a week back of children in Garo Hills who are receiving this (mid-day meal), so it is being given to them though the schools are not there,” he said while adding that the inquiry would also look into this matter to set the record straight.