CAG report points out poor management of MDM funds

The state government spent a whopping Rs 7,226 crore on the Mid Day Meal (MDM) scheme (2010-15) to improve the nutrition of children and their attendance in government schools but failed to get the desired result as there was a lack of proper management of funds, the Comptroller and Auditor General of India found in its report tabled in the state assembly on Sunday.

In its audit, the CAG also detected that the unspent balances increased significantly from ` 336.58 crore in 2010- 11 to ` 598.96 crore in 2014-15.

Improvement of nutrition level of the children was one of the main objectives of the scheme. But the state government did not conduct a baseline study to ascertain the nutritional level of children enrolled in primary schools/upper primary schools and area specific nutritional deficiencies prevalent among them. Micronutrient supplementations were not provided to children in the schools as per norms, the CAG observed.

During audit, the CAG found that against the total allocation of 16.95 lakh metric tonnes of food grain during 2010- 15, the state government lifted only 13.83 lakh metric tonnes of food grain despite non-availability of buffer stocks of foodgrains in schools, resulting in frequent disruption in supply of meals or local purchase of food grains.

An audit in the ‘test checked’ districts revealed excess payments made to transportation agencies and profit margins to PDS outlet operators. The state government incurred a loss of Rs 724.23 crore during 2006-15 on construction of kitchen-cum-stores, the report added.

A physical verification of 630 schools revealed that 18% of the kitchen-cum-stores did not have proper doors, 16% were without adequate light, 21% did not have proper ventilation and 34% lacked drainage facilities.

The CAG also found that 21% of the schools did not have kitchen-cum-stores and 42 % did not have LPG connections for cooking mid-day meals. The Supreme Court, in its order, has directed the state governments to provide mid-day meal for a minimum 200 of days but during inspection it was found that meals were provided for 102 days. Also, 48% of the cooks were not imparted training in hygienic habits. Adequate health support was not provided to the children by the schools, the report added.

The CAG has urged the state government to ensure availability of essential infrastructure facilities in schools and carry out inspection as well as monitoring of the schemes.

THE CAG ALSO FOUND THAT 21% OF THE SCHOOLS DID NOT HAVE KITCHEN-CUM-STORES AND 42 % DID NOT HAVE LPG CONNECTIONS FOR COOKING MEALS