Funds allotment for implementation of the MDM scheme has been irregular in this district.
The scheme in Kalahandi covers 2,554 schools - both primary and upper primary - comprising 2,73,210 students. The annual requirement of rice under the MDM is 72,473 quintals and Rs 26.11 crore towards cost of grocery and fuel. This apart, Rs 5.61 crore is required for payment of honorarium to cook and helpers.
The per day cost of MDM for each primary school student is Rs 3.60 and Rs 5.39 for upper primary student.
While SHGs are managing MDM in 1,533 schools, headmasters along with school managing committees take care of it in 998 schools. Nandi Foundation is involved in the remaining schools.
As far as financial management of MDM is concerned, every headmaster has a joint account with either the SHG or SMC concerned in which, the required funds is deposited by the District Inspector (DI) of Schools. Rice is supplied to the schools through block offices.
However, release of funds for buying grocery and honorarium of cook and assistants has been erratic. As a result, school authorities are either having to spend money from the school resources or purchase items on credit. As per reports, funds to meet the grocery cost has been made available by the DI of Schools till August for Bhawanipatna block only. Similarly, money for honorarium has been provided till September. In the remaining 12 blocks, schools have to provide the meals from their own resources.
To make things worse, there is no supervision on the quality of food being provided to children. Although officials like DI of Schools, DPC of Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, BDO and block-level coordinators are assigned to monitor functioning of the scheme, they are unable to do so for additional responsibilities arising out of vacancies. Out of 37 school inspector posts in the district, 20 are lying vacant.