Deputy Chief Minister and Education Minister Kadiyam Srihari has said that a vigilance cell will be set up to keep constant vigil for the effective implementation of mid-day meal scheme.
Though mid-day meal scheme was a Centrally sponsored scheme, State was utilising its own funds to provide fine rice and three eggs a week to school students. Centre implemented the scheme only up to eighth class but the State extended it up to 10th class, he said.
Mr. Srihari was responding to the queries of members N. Ramachandra Rao (BJP), Paturi Sudhakar Reddy and Bhupati Reddy (TRS) on the scheme during Question Hour in the Legislative Council on Wednesday.
While ₹677 crore was spent on the scheme in 28,623 schools in the State, Centre was sanctioning only ₹300 crore. He said there were some lapses in the implementation of the scheme and the government was taking measures to address them and bring in transparency, social audit and accountability. In some districts steps were being taken to implement the scheme through Akshaya Patra and in Warangal entire district, Akshaya Patra would implement it soon, he said.
On poor facilities to cook food in schools, he said 7,080 kitchens were being constructed at a cost of ₹146 crore and they would be ready by May 31. Measures were also being taken to cook food only on gas stoves by providing gas connections.
