Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 29: Funds to the tune of over Rs 100 crore are being spent by the Government on the Mid Day Meal Scheme in the State Government schools for the benefit of about 9.67 lakh children up to elementary level, while about 41% food grains provided by the CAPD Department go unutilized in the State.
These revelations were made by the Minister Incharge Education Department, Mohd Altaf Bukhari in a written reply to the question of Congress member Naresh Kumar Gupta in the Upper House today. The Minister disclosed that the present strength of the children up to elementary stage availing Mid-Day-Meal in J&K State is 9.76 lakh. Out of the total, 5.12 lakh children are in Jammu division while 4.55 lakh in Kashmir including Ladakh.
In Jammu division, there was enrollment of 5.34 lakh children during 2014-15 and funds to the tune of Rs 43.11 crore were sanctioned and Rs 29.50 cr ( 67.6 %) utilized, while during the same time in Kashmir Rs 24.19 crore funds were spent out of Rs 39.28 crore on 5.32 lakh children.
During 2015-16, in Jammu division Rs 50.33 crore funds were spent out of Rs 53.22 crore (93 %) on 5.33 lakh children, while as in Kashmir Rs 48.23 crore funds were spent out of Rs 52.68 crore for 5.09 lakh children.
In Kashmir division during 2016-17 total Rs 49.10 crore funds were allocated and Rs 36.64 crore spent (79 %) for 4.95 lakh children while in Jammu division out of the total Rs 61.37 crore funds allotted, Rs 57.62 crore (57%) were spent on 5.22 lakh children.
In Jammu division the highest number of 84,237 children are in Rajouri district, followed by 71,099 in Poonch, 66110 in Udhampur, 58800 in Jammu, 55,932 in Doda, 54425 in Kathua, 51,002 in Reasi, 43834 in Ramban, 33344 in Kishtwar while 15658 in district Samba.
In Kashmir region, the highest number of 1,09,280 children have been projected in Baramulla, 90705 in Kupwara, 67662 in Anantnag, 56823 in Budgam, 39339 in Bandipore, 37320 in Pulwama, 37,161 in Kulgam, 27843 in Ganderbal, 23364 in Shopian, 22720 in Srinagar, 13851 in Kargil and just 6131 in district Leh.
In response to another question, the Minister said the strength of cook-cum- helpers engaged for MDM Scheme is 29,917 out of which 15620 are in Jammu region while 14297 in Kashmir region. He said the audit of MDM Scheme is being conducted regularly by the Accountant General’s office and also by the Finance Department. Its social audit is also being done by the Education Department itself through JU/KU for this financial year.
The Minister further disclosed that during 2016-17, 18040 MTs of food grains/ rice were allocated by the CAPD Department for MDM scheme out of which only 10771 MTs ( just 59 %) were utilized while 41% remained unused. In Kashmir, 69% food grains remained unutilized during last year and hardly 30.99% were utilized.
Trending Now
E-Paper
Follow our WhatsApp channel