Mumbai: Two months after announcing a Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe, the Maharashtra government has formed a bureaucratic committee to investigate the Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Nirman Yojana (PM POSHAN) scam, where lower-quality peas were substituted for green peas in school mid-day meals. The committee, led by Secretary of School Education Ranjit Deol, is tasked with inspecting suppliers, tendering processes, and laboratory reports, and is required to submit a report to the state government within two months.
Background of the Scam
The issue came to light during the budget session of the Maharashtra Assembly, causing an uproar among legislators. It was alleged that children were being served plain peas instead of green peas in mid-day meals across schools in the state. MLAs demanded a high-level inquiry into the matter. School Education Minister Dada Bhuse assured the House that an inquiry would be conducted at the secretary level. Following this assurance, the government considered constituting a committee to conduct the inquiry.
Committee's Jurisdiction and Tasks
According to a Government Resolution (GR), the committee's jurisdiction covers districts where complaints have been received, and it may extend investigations to other districts as required. Key tasks include:
- Checking contracts signed with suppliers at the district level.
- Examining samples of food grains submitted during the e-tendering process, which were validated by NABL-certified laboratory test reports and sent to respective districts by the Director of Education in Pune.
- Verifying whether food grains are being supplied as per the contract in districts where complaints have been received.
- Checking whether payments for grain supply are made at the district level and if payments were made to suppliers who supplied plain peas instead of green peas.
- Investigating the scam and recommending action against the culprits.
About PM POSHAN Scheme
The Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Nirman Yojana (PM POSHAN), formerly known as the Mid-Day Meal Scheme, is a flagship centrally sponsored scheme. Its primary objective is to provide hot cooked nutritious meals to children studying in government and government-aided schools.
The formation of this committee marks a shift from the earlier announced SIT probe, now replaced by a bureaucratic inquiry. The committee is expected to complete its investigation and submit a report within two months.
