Thiruvananthapuram corporation ‘no’ to funds for meal scheme

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The government schools in the state capital have landed in trouble as the city corporation has refused to release funds for the breakfast and mid-day meal scheme for March citing audit issues.

Around 130 schools under the corporation’s jurisdiction are the beneficiaries of the scheme. In 2013, the corporation had spent around Rs 1.70 crore for it.

The civic body allots Rs 4 for each student as part of the programme. Education standing committee chairperson K.S. Sheela said that the civic body would not be able to allot the funds for March.

“We cleared all the dues till February 2015 but the audit department has objected. The schools don’t function during March because of annual exams,” said Ms Sheela.

The audit department was targeting most of the welfare schemes for educational institutions, she added.

The principal of a school said that government schools did not have PTA funds for meeting such expenses. “If the corporation doesn’t give us the funds, we will have to spend from our own pockets,” he said on condition of anonymity.

“Most of the schemes rolled out by us are for the welfare of the students. But the audit department is demanding explanation and questioning the credibility of the schemes as if we are misappropriating funds. It’s demoralising,” said Ms Sheela.