The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) of Rajasthan has registered a major First Information Report (FIR) exposing a massive alleged corruption scandal in the state's Mid-Day Meal (MDM) scheme. The irregularities, estimated to involve nearly Rs 2,000 crore of public funds, occurred during the Covid-19 lockdown in 2020 when government schools were closed and children were deprived of their assured meals.
Deliberate Derailment of Transparent Procurement
According to the FIR, the scam began when the state government decided on June 9, 2020, to procure chana dal through the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India (NAFED). This decision, however, was never implemented. Investigators allege it was deliberately derailed to facilitate the purchase of 'combo packs' containing pulses, oil, and spices through the Rajasthan State Cooperative Consumer Federation (CONFED). This move bypassed mandatory open tender norms.
The financial imprudence is stark. NAFED had quoted Rs 54 per kg for pulses, while CONFED's quote was Rs 61 per kg. Despite the higher price and written objections, the order was awarded to CONFED. Both the school education department's recommendation on August 21, 2020, for open procurement and the finance department's directive on November 12, 2020, to strictly follow rules were allegedly ignored.
Systematic Flaws and Financial Leakage
The ACB probe found a complete breakdown of procurement protocols. No market survey was conducted before bulk purchases. Even though procurement was phased and regular, rates were neither negotiated nor benchmarked against prevailing market prices, leading to significant overpayment.
An audit scrutiny cited in the FIR reveals specific overcharges. For students in Classes 1 to 5, combo packs were supplied at Rs 436 per unit against a market rate of Rs 415. For Classes 6 to 8, the cost was Rs 653 against Rs 641. Furthermore, the final purchase order was issued after an unexplained 8-month delay at revised rates, without any fresh assessment of the market.
The corruption extended to delivery and quality checks. In districts like Chittorgarh, Jaisalmer, and Sri Ganganagar, vouchers show a payment of Rs 6 lakh for 369 combo packs meant for 13 schools, but the material allegedly never reached them. Quality control was reduced to a mere formality, with no testing conducted for spices and vitamins.
A Web of Collusion and Fraud
The FIR outlines a complex web of alleged malpractices that turned a critical welfare scheme into a vehicle for corruption. Key irregularities flagged by the ACB include:
- Illegal empanelment of suppliers.
- Subletting of contracts in violation of financial rules.
- Involvement of fake suppliers and generation of inflated bills.
- Suspicious transactions where cheque payments were allegedly returned in cash.
The ACB concludes that officials acted in collusion with cooperative bodies and private suppliers. This ensured that funds meant to safeguard children's nutrition during the pandemic were systematically squandered, highlighting a severe case of large-scale corruption in a flagship government scheme.
