*Key instructions of MHRD yet to be complied with
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, May 3: In a testimony of non-serious approach towards overcoming shortcomings in the implementation of Mid-Day Meal Scheme, Jammu and Kashmir has failed to submit Action Taken Notes on several key findings of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India. Moreover, several instructions of Union Ministry of Human Resource Development have yet not been complied with despite repeated communications.
Official sources told EXCELSIOR that despite the existence of Mid-Day Meal Scheme over two decades and initiatives of the Union Government in making several improvements in the contents of the scheme over the years, actual implementation of the scheme suffers from various shortcomings and lapses in Jammu and Kashmir.
The Performance Audit of the scheme for the years 2009-10 to 2013-14 was conducted by the Director General Audit Central Expenditure and submitted to Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG), which in its Report No.36 of 2015 highlighted numerous shortcomings vis-à-vis implementation of scheme in Jammu and Kashmir as well as in other States of the country.
The findings were shared with J&K Government in the year 2015 for initiating corrective measures and submission of Action Taken Notes. However, till date J&K has not given replies/Action Taken Notes on majority of the findings despite the fact that Department of School Education and Literacy of Union Ministry of Human Resource Development is repeatedly sending communications to J&K in this regard, sources informed.
Even in the month of March this year the HRD Ministry’s Department of School Education and Literacy had reviewed progress on the action taken on audit observations and accordingly advised J&K to submit Action Taken Notes on the pending audit paras. However, J&K has yet not furnished the replies on all the audit paragraphs, sources informed.
Stating that action on the audit observations would have helped in ensuring effective implementation of the scheme, sources said that in the audit concern was expressed over declining trend in enrolment of the children and failure of the concerned authorities to generate awareness about the scheme strictly as per the instructions of Ministry of Human Resource Development dated July 22, 2013 whereby stress was laid on formulation of specific plans in this regard.
In the audit, glaring mismatch between the data of State and HRD Ministry regarding enrolment of children was also pointed out and State was asked to specify the reasons behind the same and initiate necessary corrective measures in a time bound manner. “However, the Ministry is still awaiting response on this aspect from J&K”, sources said while mentioning that proper match of enrolment data is imperative as the same forms the basis for allocation of food grains and cooking cost by the Ministry.
Similarly, in the audit variation in food-grains allocated and lifted was pointed out and State was asked to furnish reply on this aspect. As per the instructions of MHRD, the State is required to engage reputed institutes or National Accreditation Board for Laboratories for checking quality of Mid-Day Meal but J&K has yet not taken any serious step in this regard despite the fact that it had to furnish reply on these aspects in a time bound manner.
“The delay in release of funds at various levels and lack of regular inspection of the schools where Mid-Day Meal is served were also pointed out in the audit but neither plausible reasons have been given to the Ministry for lack of focus on these aspects nor corrective steps have been taken”, sources said.
“Had appropriate steps been taken to overcome the lacunas pointed out in the audit the implementation of the scheme would have witnessed remarkable improvement”, sources said while pointing towards existing shortcomings.
These include lack of separate Mid-Day Meal Directorate; lack of dedicated management/manpower for the scheme; delay in roll-out of Automated Monitoring System; delay in release of funds from State to schools; delay in construction of kitchen-cum-stores; delay in procurement of kitchen devices; less coverage of children and non-initiation of steps towards social audit of the scheme.
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