CAG indicts Jharkhand on Mid-day meal scheme

The Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) has recently revealed that illegal measures were taken in mid-day meals (MDM) scheme in Jharkhand during the financial years 2004-08. In this period, 12 to 34 per cent children were not covered under the MDM scheme. despite inflated reporting of enrolment of 1.91 lakh children in the scheme by the Jharkhand government.

The CAG pointed out that there were 627 non-existent Education Guarantee Scheme (EGS) and Alternative and Innovative Education (AIE) centres and the expenditure on cooking cost (Rs 3.01 crore) in these schools was ''doubtful''.

There was no marked improvement in attendance rate of students after implementation of MDM scheme. Number of students present was inflated in the attendance register, as revealed during physical verification of 10 schools, the report said.

The report said that as against the total budget allocation (including Central assistance) of Rs 756.73 crore for implementation of MDM scheme during 2003-08, Rs 551.34 crore (72.86 per cent) was spent. In four districts, cooking fund of Rs 21.92 crore meant for serving cooked meals for about 4.38 lakh children were surrendered/allowed to lapse or remitted in Civil Deposit.

CAG report further said state government did not establish any indicators for measuring the impact on nutrition and health. There was no assurance that stipulated nutritional requirements were being provided. Periodical health check-ups were also not being organised by the district authorities.

Monitoring and supervision of the MDM scheme was deficient and impact of the implementation remained unevaluated. It may be mentioned that the Centrally sponsored MDM scheme was launched all over India in August, 1995. It was intended to boost universalisation of primary education by increasing enrolment, retention and attendance and simultaneously improving the nutritional status of students in primary classes (class l to V) in phased manner by 1997-98. However, the guidelines of the scheme were revised in September 2004 and June 2006.