The government today rejected the charges that the budget of midday meal scheme has been slashed, saying the Centre had in fact increased the budget of the programme especially in drought hit states by about Rs 466.70 crores.
The MDM programme is being administered in all the states and Union Territories of the country on an agreed funding pattern between the Centre and the states.
"Moreover, there has been significant increase in devolution of central revenues to the States under the 14th Finance Commission, whereby 42 per cent of the revenues are being devolved to the States as against 32 per cent earlier," the Ministry said in a statement.
The Congress, in its report card on Narendra Modi-led government's one year, had accused the Centre of undermining the education with a steep cut in budget for the sector which included the Mid-Day Meal programme.
The Mid-Day Meal programme covers about 10.33 crore children in elementary schools in the government, government-aided schools and special training centres for mainstreaming the out of school children.
The budget estimate for the MDM programme is about Rs 9,236 crore for 2015-16 and is "likely to be increased at the supplementary stage in case of further requirements," the Ministry statement said.
The Centre has in fact enhanced outlays for States affected by drought for which an additional Rs 466.70 crores has been approved under the MDM scheme to provide mid-day meal to children at the elementary school level during the summer vacation, it said.
It further said the government has issued more guidelines for quality control and safety in the MDM programme to all the States and UTs to enhance the implementation of the programme.
