BHUBANESWAR: From misappropriation of funds to inadequate supervision and monitoring, the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has pointed at serious shortcomings in implementation of mid-day-meal (MDM) or PM-Poshan scheme in the state.
In its performance audit report on implementation of Poshan including Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) and MDM for the year ending March 2023, the CAG pointed out that the Centre did not contribute its committed share of expenditure in the state for the scheme.
The CAG checked the attendance register and daily consumption registers (DCR) of 642 schools in five districts for the 2018-19, 2019-20 and 2022-23 (except the Covid-19 period). It revealed that DCRs in 42 schools showed a higher number of students were served MDM as compared to the number of students that actually attended schools, as per the attendance registers.
“In these 42 schools, 82,270 MDMs for primary students and 1,36,546 MDMs for upper primary students were shown in DCRs in excess of the actual number of students as per the attendance registers. The irregular excess attendance shown in the DCRs resulted in inflated MDM consumption of rice valued at Rs 9.12 lakh and cooking cost of Rs 14.33 lakh,” it stated.
It highlighted that food security allowance of Rs 1,19,562 for 179 students was transferred to the personal account of the headmasters instead of the students or parents in Paikabasa area of Mayurbhanj. It also found two schools at Denguni and Ambadhuni in Muniguda had no infrastructure yet the headmasters had shown expenditure of Rs 3.05 lakh and use of 55.94 quintal rice towards MDM during 2018-19 to 2022-23.
The report also revealed several deficiencies related to hygiene and awareness observed across schools during inspection. In 25 schools, safety and hygiene protocols were not followed, as sitting mats were not provided during MDM service, violating the guidelines on food safety and hygiene. Similarly, in 35 schools, teachers had neither tasted the meal before distribution nor maintained a tasting register.
The CAG noticed that under the component of cooking cost, the central and state governments shared expenditure in the ratio of 60:40. However, the Centre did not contribute its committed share, while the state government contributed more funds for the scheme.