Nari Niketan Mahila Mandal Cidco And Ors vs The Union Of India And Ors on 6 December, 2023
"2. The question as stated in the appeal is that
the local self-help groups are sought to be
ousted by the money power of large corporate
houses with the help of the State, the decision
by this Court in PUCL v. Union of India is
being violated and that of Shagun Mahila
Udyogik Sahakari Sanstha Maryadit v. State of
Maharashtra. It is urged that the local
organization of women (Mahila Mandals) and
self-help groups are best suited to give local
food and other necessary efforts to provide
supplementary nutritional food for children.
The so-called Mahila Mandals who have
applied under the tender that has been floated
is, in fact, large industrial units and nothing to
do with the Mahila Mandals and self-help
groups. They are close to certain political
personalities in the State of Maharashtra.
Industrialists are not supplying good food as
compared to these Mahila Mandals in
different parts of the country, as accepted by
the Union of India in its report. The
imposition of the unrealistic conditions made
it impossible for the Mahila Mandals to
compete. Thus, the State is entertaining fake
business units and is acting contrary to the
various decisions of this Court and the spirit
of the scheme.