KOLKATA:  The West Bengal Government on Wednesday dubbed the Union Ministry of Education committee finding "serious discrepancies in the information submitted with regards to the  the number of meals served at various levels" as "single-sided where the views of the State have not been noted and the data "needs to be verified".

The Ministry of Education hd in January constituted the 'joint review mission' to review the implementation of Centrally sponsored scheme PM POSHAN in West Bengal after  complaints of irregularities. The Committee found that the serving of around 16.00 Cre midday meals worth over Rs.100 crore was over-reported by the local administration in West Bengal from April to September 2022

The Committee also questioned the diversion of funds imlied  for the scheme to pay compensation to fire victims, misallocation of food grains, cooking of rice, dal and vegetables up to 70 percnet less than "prescribed quantities", and usage of expired packets of condiments.

West Bengal Education Minister Bratya Basu responded to the report by claiming that the JRM submitted it without the Project Director of the State-cooked Midday Meal Program, who was supposed to sign it on behalf of the State Government.

"But what exactly is the "joint" in the joint review committee if he isn't even given a copy of the report to consider? So, it is evident that the State's opinions have not been taken into account. We've already written the JRM chairman to express our displeasure, but we haven't heard back yet "In a statement, Basu said. He  questioned the purpose of this "hide and seek" and stated that the data that has been reported in the media needs to be checked if there is no malicious intent on the part of the State Government.

It must be determined whether the JRM report accurately depicts the situation and whether the State Government's opinions regarding the disparities have been taken into account, he said, adding that  the CAG performed an audit until February 21–22, but the State Government never received any feedback.

Echoing him, senior TMC MP Santanu Sen dubbed the report as "baseless" and an attempt to malign the State Government. "It represents an effort to defame the State Government. Why does the State Government representative's signature not appear on the report? This exhibits the Centre's vengeful mentality, "he said.

The State Government came under heavy fire from the opposition BJP, who claimed that the TMC government had made corruption widespread throughout the State. "The government of Mamata Banerjee is rife with corruption. Even the PM Poshan funds were not spared by her government. A joint investigation by the State and the Center revealed that WB misappropriated Rs. 100 crore for unrelated uses! The feeding of children was inadequate. Cuts in supply. SuvenduWB, LoP, had complained, "senior BJP leader and co-in-charge of West Bengal Amit Malviya tweeted.

Who has given 16 crore mid-day meals to poor children in Bengal? Fraud worth crores exposed