MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (Dr. SHASHI THAROOR)
(a) to (g): The State-wise details of the 99 complaints (misappropriation of funds - 31, poor quality of food - 33, and other irregularities - 35) on the working of the Mid Day Meal Scheme (MDMS), received during the last 3 years and current year are given in Annexure. These reports were referred to the concerned States / UTs for taking corrective measures and to submit Action Taken Notes to this Department. During the years 2011 and 2012, Central teams were deputed for a review of the Scheme in Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, Meghalaya, Odisha, Rajasthan, Karnataka, Tripura and Uttar Pradesh. In addition to this, during 2012 and 2013, Joint Review Missions also visited Odisha, Jharkhand, Jammu & Kashmir, Punjab, Arunachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Karnataka to review the Scheme and suggest measures for the effective implementation of the Scheme. The observations of these teams such as the low coverage of students against enrolment, the delay in payment of honorarium to cook-cum-helpers, the improper storage of foodgrains, the disruption of MDM in schools due to non-availability of foodgrains and funds, the delay in lifting of foodgrains, the non-maintenance of buffer stock and complete records etc. were shared with the State Governments for necessary corrective action.
The Scheme guidelines provide for an extensive monitoring mechanism at the school, block, district, State and the National levels. The scheme is constantly reviewed to check irregularities through the Quarterly Progress Reports, in the National level Steering cum Monitoring Committee meetings and during the Programme Approval Board meetings. Independent monitoring institutes also evaluate the Scheme at regular intervals.
