Bihar returned mid day meal funds to Centre: Report

Patna, July 20: The Bihar government had allegedly returned central funds worth Rs.463 crore meant to build kitchens and buy utensils to serve mid day meals to school students.

According to a Times of India report, the director of the midday meal scheme of Bihar government had returned Rs 462.78 crore to the Centre after being unable to spend it. The money was allotted between 2006-'07 and 2009-'10, and probably lay idle till early 2012.

Sources suspect the state government's decision to return the funds to the Centre may have been taken after auditors had raised a red flag over Bihar's practice of sitting on funds meant for various schemes.

The Bihar government's lethargic approach towards mid day meal scheme proved costly to parents whose children died after consuming contaminated food at their school in Chapra village of Saran district earlier this week.

The mid day meal tragedy claimed at least 27 lives including a cook.

Amidst the loss of innocent lives of little children, perhaps, the answer to the questions of devastated parents lies with the Bihar government.

But, as usual, the state government has already started playing the blame-game, and is not ready to be held accountable for the tragic incident.

OneIndia News