Lok Sabha Question No. 1851 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-08-02
Subject: Allocation for MDM under POSHAN
Ministry: WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Shri P V Midhun Reddy, Shri Ramasahayam Raghuram Reddy, Dr. Gumma Thanuja Rani

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1851 TO BE ANSWERED ON 02.08.2024

## ALLOCATION FOR MDM UNDER POSHAN

1851.   DR. GUMMA THANUJA RANI: SHRI PV MIDHUN REDDY: SHRI RAMASAHAYAM RAGHURAM REDDY:

Will the Minister of Women and Child Development be pleased to state:

- (a) Whether the budget allocation for the Mid day Meal (MDM) scheme under PM POSHAN has been reduced from the revised allocation of Rs. 12,800 crores in 202223 to Rs. 11,600 crores in 2023-24, if so, the details thereof;
- (b) Whether there has been a delay in the disbursement of funds under the PM POSHAN scheme; and
- (c) If so, the reasons therefor and the steps taken to ensure timely disbursement of funds?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT (SHRIMATI ANNPURNA DEVI)

Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Nirman (PM POSHAN) Scheme is being implemented by the Ministry of Education. As per the input received from Ministry of Education, PM POSHAN  is  one  of  the  foremost  rights  based  Centrally  Sponsored  Schemes implemented  in  partnership  with  States  and  UTs  providing  one  hot  cooked  and nutritious meal to the eligible children.

(a) The budget allocated under the PM POSHAN Scheme for 2022-23 is Rs. 10,233.75 crore. During financial year 2021-22, 2 nd  Installment could not be released/partially released  to  several  States  and  UTs  resulting  in  committed  liabilities  in  2022-23. Further, material cost has been enhanced @9.6% over and above the existing material cost for the year 2022-23 w.e.f. 1 st  October, 2022. Hence, more funds were required for  the  year  2022-23.  Therefore,  Ministry  of  Finance  has  approved  the  Revised Estimate (RE) 2022-23 as Rs.12,800.00 crore against the Budget Estimate (BE) of Rs. 10,233.75 crore which is sufficient to implement the scheme with existing norms during 2022-23. The BE for the financial year 2023-24 is allocated as Rs. 11,600.00 crore which is likely to be sufficient for implementation of the scheme with existing norms during 2023-24.

(b) Under  the  Scheme,  the  Programme  Approval  Board  (PAB)  -  PM  POSHAN approves the Annual Work Plan & Budget (AWP&B) submitted by States/UTs. The central assistance is released on the basis of approval of PAB-PM POSHAN subject to  compliance  of  instructions  issued  from  time  to  time  by  the  Department  of Expenditure,  Ministry  of  Finance.  As  per  the  extant  instructions,  the  following conditions are required to be fulfilled by the States/UTs:

- i. Submission of Utilisation Certificate (UC) in the prescribed format of GFR12C, duly signed by the Secretary of the Nodal Department for implementation of PM POSHAN Scheme in the State/UT.
- ii. Submission of information of allocation, lifting and utilisation of food grains in the prescribed format.
- iii. Transfer of entire amount of central share released to States/UTs and its corresponding state share in State Nodal Agency (SNA) account.
- iv. Deposit of interest accrued towards central share in the Consolidated Fund of India (CFI).
- v. Funds available in SNA account including state share at the time of release of funds should not be more than 50% of the instalment (central share + state share) likely to be released.
- vi. Separate budget line for central as well as state share under PM POSHAN Scheme should be opened in the State's Detailed Demand for Grants (DDG).
- vii. State should have utilised at least 75% of the funds released (both central share as well as corresponding state share).
- viii. Mapping of all Implementing Agencies (IA) with SNA.

(c) In some cases, release of funds takes time due to incomplete compliance of above said formalities required for release, late submission of proposals by the States/UTs, huge unspent balance available with them, delay in transfer of both central and state share by the state treasury to SNA, slow pace of expenditure by States/UTs. Sanction orders issued for release of funds are uploaded immediately on the official website. On the basis of sanction order, the Pay and Account Office releases funds to State Treasury.

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