Kolkata/New Delhi: The West Bengal government has refuted a Joint Review Mission (JRM) report on the alleged mid-day meal irregularities in the state, saying the findings were submitted to the Union education ministry without consulting it.
A source in the Bengal education department told ThePrint that a team from Delhi along with Cooked Mid-Day Meal Programme, project director, T.K. Adhikari visited various districts, in February.
The mid-day meal distribution scheme, renamed as the PM Poshan, is implemented by the states for which they receive funds from the Centre.
“Our primary response to this report is that the JRM submitted the report without the signature of the Project Director, State Cooked Mid Day Meal Scheme, who was the 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 opinion or views. So, it is clear that the views of the State have not been taken into account,” Education Minister Bratya Basu said in a statement Tuesday.
Stating that a letter of protest was sent to JRM head Anuradha Dutta, Basu hints at hidden intention behind the report where data was shared with the media.
— Bratya Basu (@basu_bratya) April 12, 2023
The report on mid-day meal distribution found that Bengal over-reported meals worth more than Rs 100 crore last year, ThePrint has learnt.
Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari had written to Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan on 5 January seeking a central audit team to scrutinise the alleged irregularities following which a ‘Joint Review Mission’ was formed 13 January.
A source in the education department, meanwhile, suggested that the central team did not follow rules during this year’s inspection.
“On 6th February once inspection ended, they flew back to Delhi the very next day. Back in 2013, when the last JRM was done, the central team and Bengal representatives sat and compiled the report together. After signing it, the report was submitted in Delhi. Nothing happened this time,” said the source.
According to a senior education official, the JRM report was sent to the Mamata Banerjee government on 25 March, while a letter of protest to JRM was dispatched on 1 April. But no response was received, the official said.
“During the Central team’s visit, we also put across certain suggestions and demands. This included the increase of the monthly salary of the cook that hasn’t changed from 2009 and continues to remain at Rs 600,” added the official.
The alleged irregularities have given the BJP a new front to attack the Trinamool Congress government.
Corruption is endemic in Mamata Banerjee’s Govt. Her administration didn’t even spare the PM Poshan funds. Joint review between the state and center found that WB diverted 100 cr for other purposes! Children were underfed. Supplies cut. LoP @SuvenduWB had filed complaint. pic.twitter.com/5ebpQlhvbV
— Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) April 12, 2023
CPI-M leader Sujan Chakraborty told ThePrint that there was “loot and corruption” in every department of the West Bengal government. “Be it MGNREGA funds or mid-day meal funds or PM Awas Yojana, there is loot everywhere by the TMC. The Centre gives reports and the State denies. We want to know where these funds are being diverted?” said Chakraborty.
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What does the report say?
Sources aware of the findings of the report told ThePrint that they found irregularities in the distribution of meals, in the usage of grains and funds meant for mid-day meals. There was a difference between the number of children the state claimed were receiving the meals and those who actually did, they added.
As per the report shared with ThePrint, the progress report from April to September shared with the Ministry of Education said that 140.25 crore mid-day meals were served under the PM Poshan, but districts reported to the state that 124.22 crore meals were served.
“The number of meals served has been over-reported by 16 crore meals, which amounts to nearly Rs 100 crore,” one of the sources said, adding that meals were of lower nutritional value.
“They were also showing higher calorific value… There is a set value of calories that the children are supposed to be given. However, the state was inflating that as well,” said the source.
As per the rules, a child in the primary level is supposed to be given 450 calories per meal and a child in the upper primary level should be given 700 calories.
Essential medicines like iron and folic acid supplements were also not being given to the children, the committee found. “They were also diverting the funds meant for mid-day meals to other things,” said the source.
(Edited by Tony Rai)