The Supplementary Nutrition Programme (SNP) was launched to control protein calorie malnutrition in children below 6 years of age and expectant women and nursing mothers. Though the programme had been in operation since 1970-71, it suffered from a number of shortcomings in its implementation. Due to insufficient provision of funds and inadequate survey of beneficiaries, the percentage of coverage was 23 in Rural 16 in Urban and 28 in Tribal Project areas against the norm of 40 in rural and urban areas and 75 in tribal areas respectively. Supplementary Nutrition was required to be provided to the beneficiaries for a minimum of 300 days in a year, whereas it was not provided at all in 558 out of 19286 Anganwadis (AWs) and provided for less than 200 days in 4604 AWs during 2001-2002. The coverage of severely malnourished children was below seven per cent. The programme failed to achieve the objective of improving the health status of malnourished children, pregnant women and lactating mothers. Main audit findings are summarised below:

1. Thirty two per cent of allotments remained unutilised.
2. Against 23.45 lakh eligible children and mothers only 10.41 lakh could be covered.
3. 3 to 11 per cent Anganwadis did not distribute supplementary nutrition.
4. Rs. 8.97 lakh short realised from suppliers affected Anganwadis in processing the food.
5. Non-conversion of 30 Special Nutrition (feeding) Centres into Anganwadis resulted in avoidable expenditure of Rs.34.86 lakh.
6. Of Rs.12 crore released during 2001-02 under Pradhan Mantri Gramodaya Yojna, Rs.7.73 crore remained unutilised.