External agency to audit midday meal scheme in Maharashtra schools

“Under the Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Nirman (PM-Poshan) scheme, government-run schools are provided with funds and other facilities to run the midday meal scheme. It is crucial that funds disbursed to schools under the initiative are utilised appropriately,” reads the notification.

As per the notification, schools have been instructed to submit detailed information online, providing accurate and objective data based on their records, with essential details including financial records and documentation of midday meal-related expenses. The information provided must be based on authentic school records such as bank passbooks, cash books, rice stock registers, expenditure statements, and invoices.

The audit will examine various key documents, including records of stocks of rice and other grains, payments made to government accounts, expenditure vouchers, and certificates related to utilities and student health check-ups.

Sharad Gosavi, Director of Primary Education, said, “This initiative aims to strengthen accountability by ensuring that funds have been utilised properly and that students are receiving the benefits they are entitled to. The audit will be free of any cost and an independent external agency to conduct the scrutiny ensures that this entire process will be transparent.”