Utilisation of Central Assistance
(a) Cooking Costs.
During 2007-08, Government of India have sanctioned an amount of Rs. 2372.31 lakhs as Central assistance for cooking cost out of which Rs. 1186.155 lakhs has been released as the 1st instalment to the Districts. Necessary action has been taken to release the remaining amount of Rs.1186.155 lakhs to the Districts within the 31st March 2008. Steps have been taken to release the amount of Rs.95.88 lakhs for conversion cost to the UP Schools in 9 Educational Backward Blocks. As and when foodgrains is delivered to the schools, School Managing Committees have been advised to make use of their own resources which would be reimbursed as soon as Finance Department releases the fund for cooking cost.
(b) Kitchen Sheds construction.
Sanction for construction of Kitchen Sheds was received towards the fag-end of 2006-07 financial year for an amount of Rs. 1523.40 lakhs. The amount has already been released to 2539 Government LP Schools and the Construction work is in progress. Fund for construction of kitchen sheds to 468 U.P. Schools in Educationally Backward Blocks amounting to Rs.2,80,80,000.00 has just been received and the same has been released by State Finance Department on the 31st March 2008.
(c) Procurement of Kitchen Devices.
The Government of India have sanctioned an amount of Rs. 72.48 lakhs for 2006-07 as central assistance for provision/ replacement of cooking equipments/ devices in 1450 schools @ Rs. 5000/- per school. The amount sanction has fully been utilized. Kitchen Devices to 468 UPS in EBBs amounting to Rs.23,40,000.00 has just been received and the same has just been released by the State Finance Department on the 31st March 2008.
(d) Management, Monitoring and Evaluation.
The State has an amount of Rs.34.46 Lakhs as Opening Balance as on 1-4-2007 under the Head “Management, Monitoring and Evaluation”. The amount was spent on School Level expenses, management/supervision, training, internal/external evaluation and external monitoring evaluation. The Government of India has sanction a sum of Rs.23.65 lakhs (including Rs.2.00 lakhs for EBBs) for 2007-08 which the same has just been released by the State Finance Department on the 31st March 2008.
(e) Transport Subsidy.
Till recently the Transport subsidy to the wholesalers is paid by the District Rural Development Agencies on production of the bills by the respective wholesalers. But for the last three years, viz. 2004-05, 2005-06, 2006-07, many Districts have not received transport subsidy. In the previous years the DRDAs used to send their requirement directly to the Government of India. Presently, the Directorate of Elementary and Mass Education as the State Transport Nodal Agency of Mid Day Meal Scheme have taken up the responsibility of compiling the requirements of transportation charges for lifting of foodgrains of all the Districts and forwarding the same to the Government of India for sanction.
