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Funds for midday meals through bank in H.P.

Shimla: With a view to plug leakage of funds, the Himachal Pradesh Government has decided to make money available for midday meals in primary schools straight from the bank. Money for midday meal schemes in primary schools will now be provided through the bank, Director Primary Education B.M. Nanta said. According to the rules, an amount of Rs.2.50 per child per day is provided to about 10,800 primary schools in Himachal Pradesh under the scheme.

Earlier, three months advance was provided to these schools that lay at the disposal of the headmaster. There had been some complaints of embezzlement of funds also, the primary education director said. Besides, on some occasions, officials had to spend money from their own pockets and there had been occasions when children were not provided meals due to shortage of cash.

In order to plug the loophole and to bring in more transparency, the department has decided to provide money for the scheme directly from the bank, he said.

The headmaster and chief of school management committee have to open a joint account in a bank where money would be deposited for the scheme in advance, Mr. Nanta said. The schools have to submit details of the withdrawals to the department that would constantly monitor the implementation of the scheme, he said. – PTI

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