PM POSHAN scheme faces administrative and funding reviews in India

In Meghalaya, Education Minister Lahkmen Rymbui has requested Union Education Minister Pralhad Joshi to intervene regarding the PM POSHAN (Midday Meal) scheme. Rymbui is seeking an upward revision of the honorarium for cook-cum-helpers, noting that the central government's share has remained at Rs 1,000 for several years despite rising living costs. Additionally, the minister requested the re-approval of Rs 7,381.63 lakh for the construction of 829 kitchen-cum-stores in schools, funds that were previously surrendered due to technical issues.

In West Bengal, the School Education department has directed local administrations to take immediate action on findings from an ongoing social audit of the PM POSHAN scheme. The audit, covering 5,148 schools, examines food quality, hygiene, and potential financial irregularities. Under the new directive, Gram Panchayats and district administrations are tasked with resolving local issues and lodging police complaints for financial irregularities directly, rather than forwarding all findings to the state department, to ensure faster corrective action.