Mid-day meal: Centre wants J&K to streamline fund flow

Tribune News Service

Jammu, December 4

Taking note of the alleged delay in funds reaching the state treasury for the midday meal scheme which further affected disbursement of money to the schools, the Joint Review Mission (JRM) team of the Ministry of Human Resource Development (HRD) has asked the state to modernise its entire fund flow system from the secretariat to treasury.

Sources claimed that the instructions were given to the government after it was found that in some cases, it took a minimum of 10 months for the money to reach the schools. The Central Ministry had recommended the state to devise Management Information System (MIS) of cash transfer from the Centre to state/district so that schools get money on time.

“Provision of advance payment for the midday meal scheme should be introduced. Instead of involving schoolteachers in every aspect of the scheme, from shopping to tasting, a separate person may be engaged as incharge at cluster level (12-20 schools) under the scheme,” the JRM report said.

The report claimed that there had been no governmental initiative to involve NGOs/trusts in the implementation of the scheme. It added that involvement of the community was poor and no initiative had been taken by the scheme functionaries to encourage community participation.

“Greater efforts are required for capacity building, imparting training to teachers, headmasters, cook-cum-helpers and School Management Committee members at state, district and block levels regarding all aspects of the programme,” the JRM report said.

The report said there was no specific emergency medical plan available in the state, adding that the functionaries of the Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK) were visiting the schools, but the principal, teachers, parents and students were not made aware of the findings of the medical check-up.

With a view to enhancing enrolment, retention and attendance and simultaneously improving nutritional levels among children, the National Programme of Nutritional Support to Primary Education (NP-NSPE) was launched as a Centrally sponsored scheme on August 15, 1995.

In 2001, the name was changed to mid-day meal scheme under which every child in every government and government-aided primary school is to be served a prepared mid-day meal.