Mallik submitted her resignation after coming under attack from not only the opposition Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party but also from some ruling Biju Janata Dal leaders.She submitted her resignation to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.
The alleged scam came to light after the state vigilance department last month claimed that there were irregularities in the supply of pulses to children and women under various welfare schemes.
Three IAS officers too have faced action in the scam. While Balasore collector Manish Verma was transferred, former collector of Mayurbhanj and state director of National Rural Health Mission Dr Pramod Meherda and collector of Deogarh Ambika Prasad Mishra's names have been recommended for departmental proceedings.
The vigilance department had, in test checks in some areas last week, found pulses supplied to schools for mid-meal and SNP schemes substandard. It also found that a private supplier sold dal to anganwadi centres and schools at double the price.
The state government supplies pulses under the mid-day meals scheme, the integrated child development scheme and the supplementary nutrition programme.Though the vigilance department has not registered any case as yet but it has submitted a report to the government last week seeking approval to widen the probe.
Mallik said she resigned on moral grounds. "I was waiting for the vigilance report. The report has clearly said that I was not involved," she said."But I decided to resign because the opposition parties have been targeting the government and the chief minister over the issue," she said.
SOURCES : IANS
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