Kerala mid-day meal: Rs 32.34 cr unutilized by state; Centre blocks fund over incomplete data

Thiruvananthapuram: At a time when the mid-day meal scheme is facing challenges in the state over pending salaries to workers, records show that the state government has not utilised Rs 32.34 crore allocated last year. In July, the Director of General Education communicated this issue to the union government.

Considering the unutilised fund and citing incomplete financial data framed by the state government, the Centre has partially blocked the release of funds to the scheme. It has only released Rs 54.16 crore as first installment (till November) as against Rs 125 crore. 

It should be noted that 60 per cent of the cost needs to be covered by the union government and 40 per cent by state. As per that, the union government is bound to release Rs 184.31 crore this fiscal and the state has to allocate Rs 163.16 crore. 

Meanwhile, the state government on Saturday revoked its controversial circular related to the scheme. The circular asked the schools to pool money for the scheme via crowdfunding. It also called for the formation of a committee. The reason cited was the delay of funds released by the union government. However, teachers’s unions slammed the move and said it may trigger another set of issues.