Can't probe mid-day meal discrepancy: Education Dept

Jalandhar, December 29
Officials of the Education Department are refusing to probe a matter of alleged mid-day meal discrepancies and RTI denials at the local Mandi Fentonganj Senior Secondary School, citing a court case.
While four principals from various schools in the district have been summoned on January 1 regarding the RTI queries, another queer case of perpetual RTI denials and alleged discrepancies is being overlooked by authorities and the Education Department.
The latest report submitted by the Deputy DEO to the DC - following complaints regarding mid-day meal discrepancies at the school and denial of information sought - says the department can't probe the matter.

The letter by the Deputy DEO Harinder Pal Singh to the DC says, "As long as the court decision on the issue remains pending, conducting a departmental enquiry would not be appropriate."
For the past several years, a number of RTI queries have been made to the school - the latest being two RTIs filed by joint secretary of the school Ajay Jagota to the school principal regarding mid day meal record details - in answer to none of which, have the details been provided.
While the deputy DEO had conducted two visits to the school - on November 13 and 18 this year - to check the mid day meals, his letter said the meal was found to be proper as per government guidelines.
Deputy DEO Harinder Pal Singh, when questioned, said, "I visited the school this year during which the mid day meal was found to be proper. I don't know about the previous five years but during the time of my visit the meal was found to be proper and the report has been submitted to the DC."
When asked why he hadn't conducted a detailed check on mid day meal records (pertaining to which the discrepancies have been alleged), he said he cannot check records until the matter regarding mid day meal is in court.
Meanwhile, joint secretary of the school Ajay Jagota maintains that he hasn't filed any case regarding mid day meal discrepancies against the school (the case filed is pertaining to the school management) he has filed a fresh RTI query to Deputy DEO Harinder Pal seeking the details of his claims.
Details sought from the deputy DEO include - date of inspection, detail of mid day meal bills from 2005 to 2013, the basis for his claim, that a dispute regarding mid day meals is pending in court, detailed findings of his report after inspecting mid day meals.

DC Varun Roojam said, "We haven't come across the report so far. But I shall look into the matter and any excuse for non-submission of report won't be tolerated."

Flashback

On 31 July, 2013, Ajay Jagota, Joint Secretary of the School Management Committee had written to Rajesh Bagha, Chairman, SC Commission, Punjab, alleging 'misutilisation of funds at the school and goods provided by the government for the mid day meal'; charging of fees from children of SC community and no provision of mid day meal records to him by school despite repeated RTI applications since 2005
to 2013.
DC Varun Roojam, had ordered the checking of the mid day meal and sought a report on the issue on November 18, the enquiry marked to Deputy DEO Harinder Pal Singh.