Bhubaneswar: Several irregularities in the implementation of the PM-POSHAN scheme in Odisha, including embezzlement of government funds intended for nutritious meals for schoolchildren and the provision of rice unfit for human consumption to anganwadi children, have been revealed by the CAG. The audit, which spanned the integrated child development services (ICDS) and midday meal programme, was conducted between 2018-19 and 2022-23 in the districts of Rayagada, Balangir, Jharsuguda, Mayurbhanj, Ganjam, and Puri.
Under ICDS, morning snacks and hot cooked meals are provided to preschoolers (ages 3-6), along with take-home rations for pregnant and nursing mothers, adolescent girls, and children aged 6 months to 3 years. The audit indicated that from 2018 to 2023, all 2.19 crore ICDS beneficiaries were reported as covered at an expenditure of Rs 4,777.12 crore, against the required Rs 5,430.66 crore as per approved cost norms. However, in six districts, 1.98 lakh beneficiaries did not receive nutritional support.
Substandard rice was served to children at anganwadis in Jharsuguda. Inspections revealed that parboiled rice used for meals was infested with black bugs. Rice samples from Mundadhipa anganwadi were found to be unfit for human consumption, while rice grains in Banjari anganwadi were discovered to be encrusted with live infestations and high moisture content.
The CAG audit also highlighted serious lapses in monitoring the midday meal (MDM) scheme. According to the central mandate to maintain a single state nodal account (SNA) for MDM funds, the state nodal officer in 2021 instructed all district project monitoring units (DPMUs) to close existing MDM accounts by the end of November that year and transfer unspent funds to the SNA. Nevertheless, DPMUs continued to operate multiple accounts, holding an unspent balance of Rs 92.14 crore in them until May 2025.
An inspection conducted in December 2023 at Ambadhuni and Denguni primary schools in Rayagada district found that no school infrastructure existed at either location. Despite this, headmasters of both schools reported MDM expenditures totaling Rs 3.05 lakh and the utilization of 55.94 quintals of rice for 248 students during 2018-23, without maintaining essential records such as cash books or MDM registers.
