Financial Daily from THE HINDU group of publications
Friday, Aug 16, 2002
Financial Daily from THE HINDU group of publications Friday, Aug 16, 2002 |
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Industry & Economy
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Social Welfare Few takers for midday meal scheme Ajita Shashidhar
NEW DELHI, Aug. 15 THE Government's midday meal scheme has hit a roadblock due to paucity of funds. As a result there are only few takers for the scheme, notwithstanding a directive from the Supreme Court last year asking all States to implement the scheme within six months. According to senior officials, States have sought a near doubling of the Rs 5,900 crore allocated for this programme during the Tenth Plan. The Finance Ministry has rejected the proposal to increase the allocation for the midday meal scheme to around Rs 10,500 crore as it would put an extra burden on the Centre. With the result only 10 out of 28 States are implementing the scheme. The Centre had, in fact, constituted a sub-committee to look into the whole gamut of issues relating to fund allocation for the midday meal scheme for Government and Government-aided schools just six months ago. The panel had recommended that the Union Government should also bear 50 per cent of the conversion cost - i.e., the value addition on the basic ingredients - besides the cost of the foodgrains and transportation cost.
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