Jaipur: An independent social audit will be conducted in Rajasthan schools next month to check the quality of mid-day meals, raw materials and kitchen facilities under the PM POSHAN scheme, with 2% of schools in each district to be selected randomly.Aravali Sansthan, operating under the Indira Gandhi Panchayati Raj & Gramin Vikas Sansthan, will conduct the audit. The inspection will also cover self-help groups and Annapurna Mahila Co-operative Credit Societies involved in providing meals.“The objective is to ensure transparency and accountability in the PM POSHAN (mid-day meal) scheme, in accordance with its guidelines,” a senior official said.The mid-day meal department has directed chief block education officers, panchayat elementary education officers, self-help groups and school principals to cooperate with the audit and keep all relevant records ready. These will include student attendance registers, financial records and documents related to implementation of the scheme.The audit will cover about 15 schools per district, officials said. Inspectors will check whether meals are being served according to the prescribed menu and meet the nutritional requirements fixed under the scheme.According to an order issued in Sept last year, schools are required to serve roti, dal and sabji on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. Rice, dal and sabji are to be served on Tuesday, while Thursday’s meal will comprise khichdi made from rice, pulses and vegetables. Fruit must also be served once a week.Under PM POSHAN guidelines, the weekly menu is required to be displayed on the school campus or in the kitchen area, allowing the local community to monitor whether the prescribed meals are being served.Officials said the audit would specifically examine gaps between the prescribed menu and meals actually served. “The menu is fixed keeping in mind the calorie and nutrition requirements of children, but food is often served according to local taste and availability of raw materials. The inspection will check these gaps,” the official said.
