Not a single school in Deogarh has proper kitchens for cooking mid-day meals.
At some places, meals are cooked in broken thatched sheds, while in others it is done in the open.
Office of District Project Coordinator of SSA was entrusted with construction of kitchens in 121 schools in 2007-08 at a cost of `60,000 each.
Till now, there is no kitchen in 393 schools. Following allegation of embezzlement of funds for the scheme, Vigilance sleuths are inquiring into the case.
In Deogarh, there are 719 schools having 48,232 students who are covered under MDM. While 229 schools are located under Deogarh Municipality and Tileibani block, 242 schools are in Barkote block and 248 in Reamal.
SMCs cook MDM in all the 242 schools in Barkote block, 196 schools in Deogarh Municipality and 156 in Reamal block.
Similarly, SHGs prepare meals in 33 schools under Deogarh Municipality and Tileibani block and in 96 schools under Reamal block.
District Social Welfare officer Prabhati Rath said an amount of `3,67,20,000 was allocated to the three blocks of Tileibani which includes Deogarh Municipality, Barkote and Reamal besides the district project coordinator (DPC) of SSA for construction of 612 kitchen sheds in 2007-08, 2008-09 and 2009-10.
While the funds placed with DPC of SSA is under Vigilance scanner, 312 kitchen sheds are being constructed in the three blocks.
District Social Welfare Officer Rath said utilisation certificate on construction of kitchen has been received only from Barkote block so far.