West Bengal Government dubs report on midday meal scheme as ‘one-sided’

The West Bengal Government dubbed the Union Ministry of Education panel finding “serious discrepancies in the information submitted regarding the number of meals served at various levels” as “one-sided”. The Ministry of Education (MoE) had in January constituted the ‘joint review mission’ (JRM) to review the implementation of the Centrally sponsored scheme PM POSHAN in West Bengal.

The West Bengal Government on April 12 dubbed the Union Ministry of Education panel finding "serious discrepancies in the information submitted regarding the number of meals served at various levels" as "one-sided" where the views of the State have not been noted and the data "needs to be verified".

The Ministry of Education (MoE) had in January constituted the 'joint review mission' (JRM) to review the implementation of Centrally sponsored scheme PM POSHAN in West Bengal following complaints of irregularities.

The panel found that the serving of around 16 crore midday meals worth over ₹100 crore was over-reported by the local administration in West Bengal from April to September last year.

The panel also questioned the diversion of funds meant for the scheme to pay compensation to fire victims, misallocation of food grains, cooking of rice, dal and vegetables up to 70% less than "prescribed quantities", and usage of expired packets of condiments.

Reacting to the report, West Bengal Education Minister Bratya Basu said that the JRM submitted the report without the signature of the Project Director of the State-cooked midday meal scheme, who was representative of the State Government.

"What, therefore, is the 'joint' in the joint review committee if the report is not even shared with him for his opinions or views? So it is clear that the views of the State have not been taken into account. We have already written in protest to the chairman of the JRM, to which we have not received any response yet," Mr. Basu said in a statement.

Wondering why this 'hide and seek' if there is no malafide intention of the State Government, Mr. Basu said the data, which has come out in the media, needs to be verified.