Jammu, June 23: The state government has failed to utilize Rs 34 crore which central   government had sanctioned to construct kitchen-cum-stores in the schools for preparations of meals under Mid-Day meal scheme, sources told Greater Kashmir on Wednesday.
 They said the central government had sanctioned Rs 34.89 crores in 2006 to construct 5,815 kitchen-cum-stores within 2-years in various schools of the state. “The state government has not been able to construct even a single such facility with the result that meals in most of the institutions are prepared in open exposing students to different health hazards,” sources added.
 Pertinently, the Mid Day Meal Scheme was launched across the country to attract students belonging to economically backward families and check dropouts. 
 Notably, in J&K the scheme, launched in the year 2004, is already under scanner as the recent reports suggest that the number of school-going children is declining, thus undermining its objective.
 However, the officials of the Education department attributed the delay in the construction of facilities to delay in the release of funds. “There was some problem but we have taken up the issue with the government and construction will now be taken up in the phased manner,” said an official of the Education department.
 When contacted Minister for Education, Peerzada Muhammad Sayeed, said the delay has been caused due to some technical difficulties as many schools could not identify the space to develop the facility.
 "The process has been resumed and the project will be taken up soon," he added.

Lastupdate on : Wed, 23 Jun 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Wed, 23 Jun 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Thu, 24 Jun 2010 00:00:00 IST