Archive · 24 Sep 2026
Milk supply resumes for 5,500 Vadodara anganwadi children
About 5,500 children at 400 anganwadis in Vadodara went without their regular milk for about a week.
The milk supply stopped on September 17 because of a payment problem involving Amul and the city corporation.
The children are between six months and six years old.
They normally receive 100 millilitres of fortified milk as part of their nutrition program.
Officials said milk prices rose, using up the credit kept with Amul.
They also said some bills were received late, making payments harder to process quickly.
The city accounts department said it pays bills when they arrive and had not been told the matter was urgent.
After the issue was reported, the corporation cleared the dues on September 23.
Milk supply resumed the next day at all the anganwadis.
Milk distribution stopped on September 17 at 400 Vadodara Municipal Corporation anganwadis, affecting about 5,500 children.
The children, aged six months to six years, missed their scheduled 100-millilitre milk servings for about a week.
ICDS officials attributed the stoppage to an exhausted Amul credit balance, higher milk prices and delayed bill submissions.
The Vadodara Municipal Corporation cleared the dues on September 23 and supply resumed the following day.
Officials said all 5,500 pouches were delivered and distributed, while the corporation reviewed the finances to prevent another disruption.
- Who
- About 5,500 children at 400 Vadodara Municipal Corporation anganwadis, Integrated Child Development Services officials, the Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation, and the municipal accounts department.
- What
- Milk distribution was halted over a payment dispute and later resumed after the Vadodara Municipal Corporation cleared the outstanding dues.
- When
- Supply stopped on September 17, payments were cleared on September 23, and distribution resumed the following day.
- Where
- Vadodara Municipal Corporation anganwadis in Vadodara, Gujarat.
- Why
- ICDS officials cited an exhausted credit balance, higher milk prices and delayed bill submissions; the corporation said it had not been informed of an urgent payment problem.
ICDS Explanation
Municipal Accounts Explanation
Reason for the stoppage
ICDS Explanation
ICDS officials said the three-month credit balance with Amul was exhausted after milk prices rose, contributing to the supply disruption.
Municipal Accounts Explanation
The municipal accounts department said it routinely clears bills when they are received and was reviewing whether the deposit available to ICDS had become insufficient.
Bill submission delays
ICDS Explanation
ICDS officials said Amul submitted the June bill late, delivered the July bill only on September 3, and had not submitted the August bill by September 23 despite reminders.
Municipal Accounts Explanation
The municipal accounts department said it had no information about delayed bill submissions and that payments had not previously been delayed.
Urgency and payment processing
ICDS Explanation
ICDS officials said the July bill had been sent for processing but departmental procedures took time while Amul discontinued supply.
Municipal Accounts Explanation
Chief Accountant Santosh Tiwari said bills usually require five to six days for audit approval and could be expedited if an urgency was communicated; he said no such communication had been received.
- Children affected
- Approximately 5,500
- Anganwadis affected
- 400 under the Vadodara Municipal Corporation
- Milk allocation
- 100 millilitres per child
- Age group
- Six months to six years
- Supply interruption
- September 17 until the following week
- Milk price increase
- From Rs 9 to Rs 11.25 per pouch in 2025
- Payment and restoration
- Dues cleared on September 23; supply resumed the following day
