Karnataka, Guj among top states in utilising mid-day meal foodgrains

These states along with Jammu and Kashmir, Rajasthan, Mizoram and Meghalaya utilised between 85-100 per cent foodgrains during the last financial year, a national-level conference of the State Education Secretaries revealed today.

The two-day conference which began here today to discuss issues like procedure of fund release, coverage of un-aided schools under the scheme and study of food norms, has also revealed that Sikkim, Nagaland and Tripura have utilised over 100 per cent of the foodgrain stock allocated to these states. In case of Tripura, the utilisation level is as high as 141 per cent.

"The figures are a pointer to the fact that despite several problems and irregularities, the states were willing to bring in efficiency in the mid-day meal scheme," said an official.
The utilisation level in case of Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Uttarakhand, Assam, Chhattisgarh, Punjab and Jharkhand ranged between 75 to 85 per cent. The utilisation level in case of West Bengal, Bihar, Tamil Nadu, Goa, Chandigarh and Delhi was, however, in the range of 50 to 75 per cent. Delhi could only utilise 61 per cent of the foodgrain allocated to it, the meeting revealed. HED Minister Kapil Sibal is slated to address the conference on the concluding day tomorrow.