Sir,
Please refer to DE news item, Faulty Implementation of MDM Scheme” DE Mar 20, 2018 by Yakita Somani. The author has rightly pointed out factual report on the implementation of MDM Scheme in the J&K State. In this connection I would like to share my experience of the Scheme based on my thirty six years experience in Education Department. Fact of the matter is that it was one of the best schemes of GOI prepared for the benefit of crores of students, who always remained under fed and victims of malnutrition especially in rural areas. The students of J&K State are being benefitted by this scheme both at physical and mental level. Now, the question arises where the fault lies? In fact it should have been designed like SSA Scheme where treasury drawal is exempted. Like SSA funds the MDM Funds should come directly into the Bank Accounts of concerned DDO who should verify the bills and release further cash funds into school accounts.
It is pertinent to mention that at present much time is consumed in allotment of Grants from GOI to ZEO level and then bills are collected, passed as per Treasury Norms and cash actually comes after about six to eight months from the date of expenditure. Tills then the teacher is compelled to spend either from his own pocket or exhaust whole of the school funds meant for school development. At the start of the Scheme great announcements were made that Food and Supplies Department will provide Ration FOR school PHE will provide Water and Electric Department Electricity but on ground only the teacher was made accountable even for the fault of others. It was very easy to pay salary to cook from MGNREGA scheme in coordination with village Panchayats. The job of the teacher is to teach to provide cooked meal to hundreds of students. The Government had planned to handover MDM to some NGO and it was a better idea and should be implemented immediately or separate Department of MDM should be created to provide MDM to students and teacher be spared for his original job.
Yours etc…
R C Anthal
Trikuta Nagar,
Jammu
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