Arunachal: Mid-day meal scam surfaces in capital Itanagar

Amid several scams across the country, another scam -- this one involving mid-day meals for school children -- has surfaced in the northeastern state of Arunachal Pradesh's capital Itanagar.

It is being said that Pradhan Mantri Shakti Nirman (PM Poshan) earlier known as the National Programme of Mid Day meal has been witnessing irregularities in several schools in the capital.

In a bid to find out the truth, India Today NE surveyed various Government primary and secondary schools of the capital complex Itanagar where it was revealed that children below class 8 were not served meals except Chimpu Government Secondary School where the children were being served with the mid-meal. 

During the survey, a serious discrepancy, including diversion of PM Poshan funds, misallocation of foodgrains, and cooking of rice, dal, and vegetables up to 70 per cent less than the prescribed quantities were found. With this development, it wouldn't be wrong to conclude that through this scam, the school authorities or rice supplier, or contractors are filling their pockets. Few officers of Deputy Director of School Education off the record accepted this endemic and even independent audits have reported gross anomalies in the PM Poshan scheme in Arunachal. 

Principal of Government Higher School Ganga, Sosa Lowang Mengu while speaking to the media accepted the shortage and non-supply of kinds of stuff required for the mid-day meal (PM Poshan) scheme at her school. 

“We provide funds to our mid-day meal in charge as a loan from school fund to get rice, vegetables, masala. We are still waiting for rice this month since our new session began” Lowang added.

She further said that the contractors of the mid-day meal scheme are offering Rs 500 instead of giving 50kg rice bag which has been rejected by her. Contractors instead of supplying rice are insisting every school head accept Rs 500 per 50 kg bag.

However, Capital Deputy Commissioner, Talo Potom while speaking to India Today NE, denied all the allegations and stated that suppliers are continuously supplying rice despite facing losses in transportation as observed by him for two years. 

“There are a few problems like managing gas cylinders or firewood by school authorities which is not included in this scheme as per provisions but still they are managing and giving best meals to the students. In Sangopotom schools, there was an abruption in serving meals to school children due to a water supply shortage. I instructed my officers to repair pipes and ensure the water supply. In Nirjuli schools there were some issues which got solved,'' he added. 

Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Nirman (PM POSHAN) earlier known as the National Programme of mid-day meals in schools is one of the foremost rights-based centrally sponsored schemes under the National Food Security Act, 2013 (NFSA). The primary objective of the scheme is to improve the nutritional status of children studying in classes I-VIII in eligible schools.