Midday meals in a mess, food fails nutrition test

New Delhi, July 1, 2015

Of the total over 18 lakh students in schools across the city, only 12 lakh availed midday meal faciltities during the 2013-14 academic session, said a report released by the CAG on Tuesday.

Also, nearly 90 per cent of the samples of midday meals failed tests for nutritive value during 2010-14 period, said the Comptroller and Auditor General’s 2015 report.

“Out of 2,102 samples of cooked meals, a total of 1,876 samples failed tests for nutritive value during 2010-14 period,” it added.

As per the report, midday meals were not served on the prescribed number of days in schools. 

“Against a target of 210 working days, meals were served on 179 to 209 working days,” it added.

Even the enrolment and attendance of students went down during the period. “In select primary schools the average attendance decreased from 74 per cent in 2009-10 to 66 per cent during 2013-14 academic session,” said the Comptroller and Auditor General 2015 report.

No licence

The service providers did not obtain the mandatory licence from the Food Safety Department and were running their kitchens with the ‘no objection certifictes’ from the health department of civic agencies and fire department during 2009-14 period.

The audit also found that maintenance and improvement of infrastructure in government schools were carried without formal agreement.

“Effective monitoring mechanisim was missing. Out of 183 schools where works were claimed as completed by Delhi State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation, the Directorate of Education found only 78 per cent completed, 50 per cent under progress and 55 per cent yet to be verified by principals of schools,” said the report.

“The DoE released Rs 343.13 crore to DSIIDC although the Cabinet approved only Rs 272.94 crore for the project,” it added.

The main reason for the delay of work was the lack of “any formal agreement” between DoE and DSIIDC. 

“There was no stipulated date of completion of the project,” the report said. According to an evaluation of the project conducted by the planning department in July 2011, 53 per cent principals were not satisfied with the work executed in their schools. 

While only 14 per cent principals reported that work was satisfactory and 33 per cent showed partial satisfaction, the CAG report said.