MHRD to conduct audit of Mid-Day Meal Scheme in UT

Naina Mishra

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, July 16

The Ministry of Human Resource and Development (MHRD) is all set to carry out an audit of the Mid-Day Meal (MDM) programme in Chandigarh from August.

The same was conveyed to the UT during the Programme Approval Board (PAB) meeting held in June this year.

As per the minutes of the meeting, an audit of all schools titled ‘Shagunotsav’ will be carried out from August to September.

‘Shagunotsav’ will lead to the grading of schools for the purpose of understanding the gaps and where additional support/infrastructure will be required.

The rationale behind the audit is to assess the status of all government and government-aided schools on various key indicators, including the availability of school infrastructure and other facilities related to teachers and students.

The audit will include all aspects and issues pertaining to the Mid-Day Meal Scheme. For this, the UT will appoint a nodal officer who shall be responsible for the conduct of this exercise. The Centre has directed that the services of teachers will not be used for the purpose of the survey.

In a first, the Chandigarh Administration has conducted a social audit by the Centre for Research in Rural and Industrial Development (CRRlD) in 20 schools for the 2018-19 session. As per the MDM guidelines, it is mandatory to conduct social audit in at least 20 schools in all districts. The UT Administration was advised to share the findings of social audit with the Department of School Education & Literacy, MHRD.

Mobile app for survey

• A mobile app is being developed to put the data online and the data will be compiled centrally. User manual for the mobile app will be provided to the surveyors. A monitoring cell will be set up both at the Central and state level for technical issues related to the mobile app and for supervision and ensuring of effective conduct of ‘Shagunotsav’ for a period of three months.

• The questionnaire will be developed at the central level and shared with the UT. It will focus primarily on infrastructure and facilities in schools.