Liability goes above Rs 25 cr, no funds after Dec 2016
Gopal Sharma
JAMMU, July 19: About 12,500 Government Schools in Jammu province are facing crisis as the Mid Day Meals have been almost stopped in majority of these schools in view of non- availability of funds from the Central Government after December 2016 while the liability on account of this Scheme in Jammu region has crossed Rs 25 crore mark.
Official sources told the Excelsior that since January this year, the concerned Chief Education Officers did not provide any funds to the Govt schools in their respective districts on account of Mid Day Meals Scheme. The teachers, in-charge Mid Day Meals in schools, after stoppage of funds continued providing food to the children from their own resources and pocket for some time. Then they started lifting ration on credit from the shops of the area. But in view of non-payment to the traders for couple of months, the traders also refused to continue the supply of ration/ edible oil and the other necessary supply to the schools on credit basis.
Facing funds crunch, the teachers in majority of the schools have been forced to stop Mid Day Meals to the children. Even in some schools, the managements are consuming the building fund, Red Cross Fund, Games Fund etc for running the Mid Day Meals Scheme. With this, a huge liability has been created. Even the cook engaged in schools have not been paid their wages since October last year. They are getting Rs 750 from Central Govt and Rs 250 from State Govt per month but in all these cases, state share is pending since long.
Data compiled from various districts has revealed that liability to the tune of Rs 25 crore has been generated in Jammu province on account of Mid Day Meals Scheme. Hardly in Jammu and Rajouri districts, the liability worth Rs 5 crore has been created.
In Kathua district, there are about 1419 Govt schools where Mid Day Meals is provided. The teachers I/C Mid Day Meals have almost stopped supplying the meals. They were bringing LPG cylinders, onions, potatoes, edible oil, salt, chillies, turmeric etc from shops in their respective areas. It has been learnt that there is old liability of about Rs one crore in the district on account of Mid Day meals which is needed to be cleared immediately. The fresh liability/ pendency to the tune of about Rs 80 lakhs has also been generated till last month.
Minister for Education, Altaf Bukhari on being contacted said that old pattern of cooking through teachers is being replaced with the NGOs for cooking Mid Day meals. He said in district Jammu and Samba, NGOs are being engaged to cook food for children shortly. Later, this system will be introduced in all the other districts of the State.
“In fact we want to keep teachers free from the extra burden of cooking. Their services will be utilized in academics only in future,” Bukhari said.
Regarding non-availability of funds for Mid Day Meals in schools, the Minister said that matter has been taken up with the Central Government. The release of funds is expected shortly. The liabilities also, if found genuine, will be cleared. Regarding fate of cooks in schools after the introduction of NGOs, the minister assured that their services will be utilized in schools for other purposes.
Director School Education Jammu, Ravinder Singh when contacted said that there are about 12,500 Govt Schools in Jammu province where this Scheme has been taken up. He said it is true that many schools are facing problems due to non release of funds but matter has been taken up with the higher authorities. He hoped that Mid Day Meals funds will be received shortly. But he claimed that scheme has not been closed as in many schools teachers are providing meals from their own pockets/ resources.
Chief Education Officer, Kathua Balbir Singh when contacted said that after stoppage of funds from the beginning of this year, he was facing tremendous hardships.
The Masters/ Teachers Incharge Mid Day Meals during each meeting, raise this issue but he is unable to help them. Many of them are consuming School funds for running the scheme while some are getting stuff on credit from the shops. They owe huge amount to the shopkeepers. He disclosed that there is liability of about Rs one crore in Kathua district on account of Mid Day meals and this amount is old liability. The fresh liability has also been created but that is being evaluated. Roughly, it may also go around Rs one crore by the end of this month.
The CEO disclosed that earlier Centre was providing 65% and 35 % funds share was of State Government but now, it is in the ratio of 90:10. State is now contributing just 10 % but delay in release of funds, has aggravated the problem. There is no problem in getting rice from the FCI through Food and Supplies department. That stuff is available with the schools but, funds for LPG, recipe, vegetables, oils and other kitchen stuff etc are not available. The matter has been taken up with the higher authorities, he added.
CEO Jammu, JK Soodan when contacted said there are about 1498 Government schools in the entire district where this Mid Day Meals Scheme is being run. He said the state share of the Mid Day Meals fund is just 10 % but that amount gets delayed and schools are unable to get the fund on time. Due to this reason, this problem is faced across the State. He said if the process of funds flow remains smooth the scheme will go on smoothly in each school without any problem.
Replying to a question, the CEO Jammu disclosed that the old liability on account of Mid Day Meals Scheme in entire district is to the tune of Rs 1.5 crore while, the fresh liability after December 2016 has reached to Rs one crore mark. Figures compiled from the office of CEO Rajouri Lal Hussain has indicated that while number of schools where Mid Day Meals is being provided is around 1690 while the new and old liability is more than Rs 2.5 crore. The old liability alone is around Rs 2 crores in the district.
Chief Education Officer Doda, Mohd Sharief disclosed that there are clear instructions from the Government to provide Mid Day Meals to the students. The teachers are running the same from their own resources/ pockets but this is also true that they are taking food/ recipe items/ LPG/ fuel etc on credit from the shopkeepers who have also refused to give the same on credit. He said after December 2016, no funds have been provided. The schools are facing crisis and teachers are unable to run the scheme. They used to take money on loan out of school funds. He disclosed that there were 1275 Govt schools in entire district where scheme is being run while the liability of the district has reached Rs 2 crore.
District Education Planning Officer Udhampur, JM Tarmatt disclosed that there were total 1499 schools in the entire district where Mid Day Meals Scheme is being executed. He said there are 899 Primary, 589 Middle schools while rest are High and Higher Secondary Schools. He disclosed that liability of 2016-17 was to the tune of Rs 2.32 crore while that of 2017-18 up to ending June was to the tune of 1.36 crore.
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