Rajasthan Speaker orders investigation into food item purchase at tribal hostels

Rajasthan Assembly Speaker Vasudev Devnani on Wednesday (February 18, 2026) directed an investigation into the allegations of irregularities in the purchase of food items at residential hostels for children belonging to tribal communities. The direction came in the Question Hour following the reply of a Minister.

Opposition Congress MLAs expressed dissatisfaction with Tribal Area Development Minister Babulal Kharadi’s reply to a question regarding the prices and quality of food items supplied to the hostels. The House witnessed heated exchanges between the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Opposition members on the issue.

“A thorough investigation will be conducted in the matter,” Mr. Devnani said amid disruptions in the House, as the Congress legislators raised a question over variations in procurement rates for food items at different hostels and alleged irregularities in the process. The original question was asked by Banswara MLA Arjun Singh Bamaniya.

Leader of Opposition Tika Ram Jully said the regular tender process had been discontinued for the last two years and the funds were being deposited directly into the accounts of hostel wardens. “Ghee is purchased at ₹400 per litre at some places and ₹800 at some others. This is direct robbery of the food for tribal children… The Minister has not given a clear answer on the open loot,” he said.

Mr. Kharadi informed the House that a committee had been appointed to inquire into the alleged irregularities, while the hostels had been directed earlier to procure food items from the cooperative consumer stores. “The hostels purchased supplies from the open market when the stores expressed inability to supply the ration,” he said.

The Congress members said no clarification was offered on difference in prices in the purchases, leading to verbal spat with the ruling party MLAs. Mr. Kharadi said the committee would comprise the financial advisor, additional district education officer, accounts officer and assistant accounts officer.

The Minister said action would be taken as per the rules against the officials found guilty. In his written reply, Mr. Kharadi said the students residing in the government-run tribal hostels were being provided with regular meals, comprising breakfast, fruits, milk, biscuits and tea.