Chandigarh, July 24, 2020: While terming the report about non distribution of the Foodgrains to the school kids under Mid Day Meal in a section of press, as totally baseless, false and fabricated, the Punjab Education Minister, Vijay Inder Singla said that the foodgrains had been supplied to as many as 15.79 lakh beneficiary students till June 30 this year.
Besides, the amount of cooking cost to the tune of Rs.37.26 crore has also been released. Out of which, Rs.23 crore has already been transferred to the bank accounts of the beneficiary students.
The remaining sum of Rs.14 crore is still lying pending with the respective schools for want of opening of students’s Bank accounts, further said the Education Minister while adding that taking note of the problems and suggestions received from the District Education Officers regarding the direct transfer of the amount of cooking cost into bank accounts, the state government had taken up the issue with the Centre government on July 08 and sought nod for payment of cooking cost in cash while delivering supply of foodgrains to the students.
“Despite facing many odds due to the unprecedented pandemic, the teachers have really being doing a commendable job in taking on line classes, distributing books and foodgrains at the doorstep of the beneficiary students,” said Vijay Inder Singla, while adding that there was no dearth of funds as well as availability of the foodgrains to cater to the nutritional needs of the school kids.
There is total availability of food grain is 8230 MT. The bills amounting to Rs.70.70 crore has been presented in the treasury. The amount is sufficient for the cooking cost up to the period of August 15, 2020, added the Education Minister.
