The Centre has asked the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) for a special audit of the implementation of the PM Poshan Scheme in West Bengal in the last three financial years. The audit will encompass compliance, performance and financial audit.
This move came in the wake of the Ministry of Education receiving reports of alleged misuse of funds in the state under the scheme. Instances of deviations in the implementation of the scheme have also been reported in the media.
An official press note said the CAG is empowered to conduct this audit under the Regulations on Audit and Accounts (Amendment) 2020 framed in pursuance of section 23 of the Comptroller and Auditor Generals (Duties, Powers and Conditions of Service) Act, 1971, (Act No 56 of 1971). Necessary corrective action will be taken by the Department based on the Audit Report by the CAG.
The Department of School Education and Literacy administers the PM Poshan Scheme vide which funds are provided to states, based on proposals received from them, for one hot cooked meal to eligible children in Classes I to VIII and Balvatika. The scheme benefits about 11.80 crore children in the country studying in 11.20 lakh government/government-aided schools.