Education ministry asks CAG for special audit of PM Poshan scheme implementation in West Bengal

NEW DELHI: Ministry of Education after receiving reports about alleged misuse of funds in West Bengal under the PM Poshan Scheme has requested the office of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) for a special audit of the implementation of PM Poshan Scheme in the state. The special audit of the PM Poshan scheme has been requested for the last three financial years. The audit, an education ministry statement said, will encompass compliance, performance and financial audit.

Instances of deviations in the implementation of the scheme have also been reported in the media, the ministry statement said.

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“The 0/o of CAG is empowered to conduct this Audit under Regulations on Audit and Accounts (Amendment) 2020 framed in pursuance of Section 23 of the Comptroller and Auditor Generals (Duties, Powers and Conditions of Service) Act, 1971, (Act No 56 of 1971),” it said.

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Necessary corrective action will be taken by the department on the basis of the audit report by the office of the CAG.

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The Department of School Education and Literacy administers the PM Poshan Scheme under which funds are provided to states, based on proposals received from them, for one hot cooked meal to eligible children in Classes 1 to 8 and Balvatika. PM Poshan Scheme benefits about 11.80 crore children in the country studying in 11.20 lakh government and government-aided schools.