The Rajya Sabha witnessed noisy scenes today over the government's reported proposal to give pre-cooked food to children at anganwadi centres under the Integrated Child Development Scheme. Referring to media reports, CPM member Brinda Karat questioned whether the government was pushing for a proposal to give ready-to-eat meals to children that was opposed by the Planning Commission. Taking objection to motives being ascribed on her ministry, minister of women and child development Renuka Chowdhury said the government was as much concerned about the welfare of children as anybody else did. Members, both from the BJP and the Left, were on their feet asking for a specific reply from the minister that led to noisy scenes for sometime. Amidst the din, Chowdhury was heard asking Karat as to what she meant by "pushing'. Earlier, Chowdhury said a deliberate vilification campaign was going on over the issue. Faced with questions on the Planning Commission's reported opposition to the proposal, she said the commission did not have the Constitutional powers that the government had. She said the question of centralised system of food distribution did not arise and it would continue to be a state subject. The need of the hour was to put pressure on state governments to ensure that the programme reached the beneficiaries, she said, asserting that the Centre would direct states to pay anganwadi teachers for the additional work that they were asked to do.