New Delhi: In response to the query of KC Venugopal MP, the Union Minister has disclosed in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha that Kerala had wasted Rs 32.34 crore allocated for the School Lunch Scheme (PM Poshan) in the previous financial year. Minister Dharmendra Pradhan clarified that the Ministry of Education did not receive Kerala’s formal request to use locally produced rice for the lunch programme.
According to Pradhan, Kerala had been allotted 71,598.86 tonnes of rice through the Food Corporation of India (FCI). The Ministry of Education had communicated with states regarding the rice’s quality. Kerala has to make a separate application for this. The state requires 70,000 tonnes of rice for the school lunch programme.
The wastage of funds by the Kerala government in the preceding year has raised concerns. There is a warning that failure to provide supporting documentation may lead to a reduction of Rs 303.21 crore from the central government’s share allocated for this purpose. Out of the total allocation of Rs 478.96 crore for the current financial year, Rs 175.75 crore comprises the state’s share, and the remainder constitutes the central government share.
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