Saharsa local contractors have reportedly supplied “old, sub-standard and cheaper than quoted Government rate” Eid kits to over 3,500 flood-hit families living at 53 relief camps. In fact, over 3,700 families have not yet received their special Eid kits, ordered by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. The Eid special kit has a steel plate, bowl, tumbler, a sari and dhoti each, a vest and a frock. The kits were ordered to be distributed among all flood-hit people, irrespective of their religion.

According to sources, local contractors, overseeing the purchase and distribution of the kits, have made a lot of money by buying poor quality stuff for cheaper rates and distributing them among the victims. While the Government sanctioned Rs 250 per kit, most of these contractors allegedly spent between Rs 130 and Rs 150, making a profit of Rs 100 per kit.

Yugal Bhimchariya, a local shopkeeper and a BJP functionary, told The Indian Express: “Several contractors came to me asking if I sold cheap vests for Rs 12 per piece. While I turned them away, they bought them from some other shopkeeper.” Several shopkeepers at Kapdapatti, main cloth market in the town, said the contractors had been buying “poor quality” clothes from them.

When Deputy Chief Minster Sushil Kumar Modi was asked about the matter, he said: “We had to place the order just a week before Eid without any proper tendering, so we cannot rule out sub-standard supply.” Modi has asked Saharsa District Magistrate R Laxman to look into the matter and ensure that the suppliers produce original bills against every purchase.