Bihar govt orders for action against 68 primary, middle schools for irregularities in MDM

Kumar Rajiv Nayan

Ara: Principal Secretary, Education Department, Jitendra Srivastva. and Director, Mid-day Meal (MDM), Harihar Prasad, on November 3, 2016, directed the MDM incharge, Bhojpur, Sultan Ahamad to take action against 68 primary and middle schools in Bhojpuri district for alleged irregularities in the MDM. They also asked him to ensure return of Rs 8 lakh allegedly misappropriated by each of these school under MDM head. The direction was given through video conferencing on November 3 evening.

An inquiry was ordered into the largescale anomalies in the MDM. The inquiry was conducted from October 13 to October 29, 2016, by the Block Sadhan Sevis in those schools that reported 80% or above attendance of the students and wide gap in physical average presence and presence during physical verification was detected besides embezzlement of about Rs 6 crore meant for the MDM.

Sultan Ahamad, MDM incharge, Bhojpur, said that a list of 68 schools has been given to the Principal Secretary and the District Programme Officer, Establishment, Om Prakash for necessary action.