CAG report on Mid-Day Meal: Mumbai school children get sub-standard food

CAG today revealed that Mumbai schools student are getting sub-standard food in their mid-day meals. Ninety-seven per cent of the samples of meals served under the mid-day meal scheme in Mumbai schools over the past five years failed to meet the standards, the Comptroller and Auditor General's report says. 

On an average, 66 per cent of the 269 selected schools did not provide cooked meals during 2010 to 2015, the CAG report on general and social sector for the year ended March 2015 says. 

The report was tabled during the ongoing monsoon session of Maharashtra Legislature. "A performance audit of the scheme for 2010-2015 revealed inadequate coverage of schools falling under the notified drought-affected districts," the report says. "During 2010-15, 97 per cent of the samples of cooked meals lifted from central kitchens in Mumbai failed to meet the calorific value and protein content prescribed under the scheme," it says. 

Further, the mid-day meals were not tasted regularly by teachers and school management committee members. The schools were using packaged food items like cooking oil and condiments even after expiry dates.