Mid-day meal quota raised for fake students

Kendrapara (Orissa), Feb 9 (PTI) A photographic drivein the government-run primary schools in Orissa''s Kendraparadistrict had revealed the presence of more than 11,000 fakestudents in the school registers.

Though names of 11,266 students were in the enrolmentregister, but the children could not be traced in reality.

However, MDM (midday meal) ration against these fakestudents were being sanctioned, officials said.

"As many as 11, 266 students were not traceable andcould not be covered under the photographic exercise. Itshould be construed that the enrolment of these ''missing''students were on pen and paper only," Kendrapara CollectorDhananjaya Das told PTI.

"A drive was launched and all school children werephotographed. Their snapshots were affixed in the schoolattendance register. It has been found that around 12,000 fakestudents were enrolled in attendance registers," he said.

Every year the government exchequer in Kendrapara wascoughing up Rs 78,07,338 towards the cost of ration earmarkedfor such fake students. The beneficiaries of enrolment scamwere mostly from district social welfare department andschools and mass education department officials, sources said.

MDM suppliers too had a share in the spoils,officials.

The ration cost specified against each of the enrolledstudent stood annually at Rs 693, according to officialsources.