Kolkata: In the case of Midday Meal in West Bengal, information about big rigging has come to the fore. For this, the central and state governments have also decided to conduct a joint review. Let us tell you that, under the 'Pradhan Mantri Poshan Yojana', nutritious midday meals are provided to the school children. But, according to what has been revealed now, in the year 2022, from April to September, there has been a disturbance regarding 16 crore mid-day meals, which is about 100 crore rupees. It is alleged that additional reporting of 16 crore midday meals was done, that is, the food that was not given to the children but was entered.

The Union Ministry of Education has constituted a 'Joint Review Commission (JRC)' to investigate this. It is also alleged that the funds released for this scheme were diverted to some other place. From these funds, compensation was provided to the victims of the fire. Along with this, there has been rigging in the allocation of food grains. The quantity of rice, pulses, and vegetables was also 70 percent less. Also, there is an allegation of using expired products, such as salt and pepper, etc. According to media reports, on March 24, the Union Ministry of Education conveyed its serious concerns to the Mamata Banerjee government of Bengal. Along with this, complete information has been given to the government of Bengal about where the disturbances have taken place. The figures for the number of midday meals given to the children have also been exaggerated. The financial misappropriation that has taken place has been underscored by the central government. After this, on March 30, CM Mamta Banerjee's government replied to the Centre that local project directors have been instructed to study these irregularities.

From January 29 to February 7 in 2023, the mission visited the state and reviewed it, during which these irregularities were exposed. The district-level register regarding the children eating midday meals and the figures sent by the Bengal government to the Centre have also come to light. Professor Anuradha Datta, Head (HOD) of the Department of Food and Nutrition at the GB Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Uttarakhand, is leading the JRM. The inquiry committee of the Central Government has found that after looking at the district-level figures during the said period, it is known that 124.22 crore mid-day meals were given, whereas in the report submitted by the State Government to the Central Government, this figure is 140.25 crore. That is, the figure of 16 crore midday meals was shown as fictitious or exaggerated. The children did not eat the midday meal. Bengal government officials argue that the JRM report was finalised without the signature of any official in West Bengal. Along with this, the officials of the Bengal government have, on the contrary, accused the central government of not following the rules.

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