Centre withholds mid-day meal grant to Punjab
The state did not give its full share last year. It has delayed the release... this year as well. Due to lack of clarity on utilisation of (Centre) fund, no further money has been granted. UNION MINISTRY OFFICIAL
CHANDIGARH:The Union ministry of human resource development (HRD) has withheld the release of central grant to Punjab for the mid-day meal scheme for the schoolchildren due to “non-release” of the state’s own share.
The ministry, which approved a grant of ~165 crore under the National Programme of Mid-Day Meal in Schools for the financial year 2017-18, released an initial ad hoc assistance of ~40.17 crore about six months ago, but has not made any further fund release.
The scheme – the largest programme of its kind in the world – is jointly funded by the Centre and states on 60:40 sharing basis.
“States are given funds in three instalments. The first tranche of 25% was sanctioned on May 1 and another 35% was due for release in July after adjusting the unspent balance from the previous year,” an HRD official told HT. “The state (Punjab) did not give its full share last year. It has delayed release of matching contribution this year as well. Due to lack of clarity on utilisation of central assistance given last year, no further money has been granted.” The state’s share is ~95 crore this year.
While Punjab got only 25% of the central assistance approved for 2017-18 so far, almost all other states have been given 60%. HRD director, mid-day meal, G Vijaya Bhaskar also sent a letter to the state governments last month asking them to send proposals for release of final instalment of the central assistance along with details of their matching contribution and expenditure.
The state’s director general, school education, Prashant Kumar Goyal, said there was problem of fund flow from July, but the finance department has started streamlining things. “The flow will be smooth in the next 2-3 weeks. Already the department has released ~25 crore. Thereafter, we will send for release of central grant.”
However, a department official pointed the finger at the previous SAD-BJP government for not releasing the matching state share last year, saying that central funds were diverted to other works in the election year. Congress took power in March.
The delay is a setback for the fund-starved Punjab which has been trying to scrounge up cash for paying salaries and to roll out its poll promises.