Around 89 per cent food samples of the mid-day meal scheme failed to pass the “nutritive” value test during 2010-14 in Delhi, a CAG report has said.
The government auditor also said that of the 18,000 children supported under the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyaan only 1,154 were covered during 2013-14.
It also stated that the average attendance in primary schools of the Delhi government decreased 12 per cent in four years.
“Out of 18,000 children studying in Education Guarantee Scheme (EGS) and Alternative and Innovative Education (AIE) centres supported under Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, only 1154 children were covered during the period 2013-14.
“The enrolment, attendance and retention of children in schools could not be enhanced. In selected primary schools, the average attendance decreased from 74 per cent in 2009-10 to 66 per cent in 2013-14.
“Mid day meals were not served on the prescribed number of days in both Primary and Upper Primary Schools. Out of 2102 samples of cooked meals, a total of 1876 samples (89 per cent) failed tests for nutritive value during 2010-14,” the report said.
The audit observed that there were deficiencies in coverage of EGS/AIE centres and Madarsas as Programme Approval Board (PAB), in its meeting (May 2009), directed GNCTD to cover all 18000 children studying in EGS and AIE centres supported under Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), during the year 2013-14.
However, only 1154 children of three AIE centres and five Deaf and Dumb schools, were covered under the scheme.
“This was also mentioned in the Previous Report, however, no substantial improvement was noticed. Government stated (April 2015) that only 2047 children are studying in 19 centres being run by NGOs/Madrasas and they will be covered under the scheme from April 2015.
“The reply indicates flawed planning of the Directorate for identifying and covering all children of EGS and AIE centres. The reply was silent regarding coverage of children under SSA,” the report said.