Jakhar seeks white paper on mid-day meal funds
Thursday, 05/09/2013
http://www.punjabnewsline.com/punjab/jakhar-seeks-white-paper-on-mid-day-meal-funds/86129
CHANDIGARH: Reacting over the reported delay in releasing funds to the government and government aided schools, CLP leader Sunil Jakhar dared the alliance government in Punjab to come out with details of funds allocated so far.
Quoting Union Ministry of Human Resources letter No. F 5-5 dated April 18, 2013 he said that Rs 5,136 lakh were released to which the state government was required to contribute Rs 1,426 lakh only under the rules. It visibly appears that the funds under the welfare schemes received from the central government were being misused by the cash-strapped Punjab government for other purposes including Sangat Darshan by the Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal.
“Since Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal claims that state exchequer has no problem let him ensure immediate release funds for the mid-day meals scheme as millions of kids are returning home empty stomach daily. Till today the state government had not provided funds to the government aided private schools to purchase utensils for cooking and kitchens too have to be constructed. The state government should also initiate action against the Finance Department officials for detaining central government funds received under various welfare schemes since 2011-12,” Jakhar demanded adding that a white paper on utilisation of funds during the preceding years should also be issued.
