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Item Performance Audit on Mid Day Meal Scheme in Arunachal Pradesh (2009-2014)(CAG of India, 21-07-2015) CAG of IndiaThe ‘National Programme of Nutritional Support to Primary Education’, a Centrally Sponsored Scheme, commonly known as ‘Mid-Day Meal’ (MDM) Scheme, was launched with the primary objective of boosting the universalisation of primary education by increasing enrolment, retention & attendance and simultaneously improving nutritional status of primary school children. Performance Audit of the scheme revealed that the Department covered all Government Primary/Upper Primary Schools (3116), Government-aided Primary/Upper Primary Schools (68) and EGS/AIE Centres (155) in the State under the scheme. However, there were deficiencies like inadequate financial management, short-lifting of food grains, delay in release of funds to schools for meeting cooking costs, inadequate infrastructural facilities in schools and lack of monitoring by the Department. Some major audit findings are highlighted below: 1. No household surveys were conducted to identify the total number of children not enrolled at the Primary stage. No attempt was also made to encourage high level of enrolment through publicity, etc. 2. In 2010-11, against GoI total allocation of 6,687.66 MT of food grains for Primary/Upper Primary level, the Department lifted only 5,928.37 MT and during 2013-14, against the allocation of 6,625.01 MT of food grains for Primary/Upper Primary levels, only 6,598.95 MT were lifted, leading to shortlifting of 785.35 MT of food grains. 3. There was a shortfall in provision of 47,360 meals due to short receipt of food grains in 137 schools. 4. In six schools of West Kameng and Lohit District, 46.61 quintals (23 per cent) of the allotted rice was issued as dry rations instead of cooked meals, violating directives of the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India. 5. In 150 test-checked schools, pucca kitchen sheds were not available in 130 (87 per cent) schools; drinking water facilities in 35 (23 per cent) schools; gasbased chullahs in 148 (99 per cent) schools; and cooking utensils in 9 (6 per cent) schools. 6. During the period 2009-14, there were persistent savings ranging from 1 per cent to 32 per cent. 7. From 2009 to 2014, there were delays ranging up to 21 months in release of Central assistance by the State Government to the Nodal Department. 8. The State Government did not contribute its share, aggregating to ₹ 12.93 crore (63.69 per cent), towards Conversion Costs, Honorarium to cooks-cum-helpers and MME costs. 9. There were deficiencies in meetings of the State, District and Block Level Monitoring Cells to monitor implementation of the scheme. 10. Findings of evaluation studies conducted by an Independent Agency to assess the impact of the scheme were not discussed by the State SMC to address the deficiencies pointed out in the Evaluation Reports.Item Idle Expenditure on Laboratory Equipment and Software for Polytechnics and Govt Engineering Colleges in Chhattisgarh(CAG of India, 25-07-2015) CAG of IndiaProcurement of laboratory equipment and software without assessing the requirement and without ensuring the availability of necessary infrastructure to utilise the equipment resulted in idle expenditure of ₹ 8.62 crore.Item Undue Favour to a Firm for Setting up of Language Laboratories in Universities in Odisha(CAG of India, 20-09-2018) CAG of IndiaThe decision to award the work of setting up of LLs in 108 colleges of the State to a private firm on nomination basis was not in order. Further, there was no enrolment in 42 colleges where LLs were set up at the total cost of ₹ 8.64 crore.Item Performance Audit of Post Matric Scholarships for Scheduled Caste Students (All India Report 2012-2017)(CAG of India, 07-08-2018) CAG of IndiaAt the request of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, a performance audit of the implementation of the scheme covering a period of five years from 2012-13 to 2016-17 in five States of Karnataka, Maharashtra, Punjab, Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh was undertaken by audit. The total expenditure incurred in the scheme in the five States was INR 18,647 crore during the period 2012-17 benefitting 1.36 crore students from the SC community. The performance audit of the implementation of the scheme brought out systemic gaps in scheme guidelines themselves as well as lack of planning, poor financial management and irregularities in disbursement of scholarship funds with a financial implication of ` 581.68 crore as well as discrepancies and inconsistencies in data generated through the web portals with an additional financial involvement of ` 455.98 crore that pointed to the need for a thorough review of the scheme guidelines as well as its implementation so as to ensure that the scheme funds were not misused or diverted for other purposes. Scheme guidelines, critical for laying down mechanism for various processes, were found deficient in many aspects. No mechanism was prescribed for any of the planning exercises of preparation of action plan/perspective plan for identification of eligible beneficiaries before submission of proposals for central assistance to the Ministry nor did the guidelines prescribe any timelines for submission of application by students and their scrutiny and approval. Consequently, there were delays in payment of scholarship to 18.58 lakh students ranging between one to six years in four States of Maharashtra, Punjab, Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh. The guidelines also do not contain any provision for monitoring and evaluation that are essential for decision-makers to realistically evaluate the progress of the scheme and identify impediments to its efficient implementation. The implementation of the scheme was constrained by inadequate allocation of funds by the Central Government as well as poor financial management by the States. Government of India could not meet the growing demand for funds from the States which resulted in accumulation of arrears amounting to INR 5,368 crore in the five selected States. Even the available funds could not be fully utilised in three States of Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh with INR 375.30 crore remaining undisbursed due to mismatch of bank details which resulted in depriving eligible students of the scholarships. Further, INR 28.94 crore of scholarship funds was diverted in Karnataka and Maharashtra for maintenance of e-scholarship portal and purchase of stationery, computers, etc., during 2012-17. The States also failed to ensure adherence to the scheme guidelines relating to eligibility of beneficiaries and procedures for processing of applications and disbursal of scholarship funds. Audit noted short reimbursement/denial of scholarship amounting to INR 125.82 crore in three States of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Punjab. There was excess payment of scholarship of INR 49.67 crore to 1.88 lakh students in Punjab, Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh during 2012-17 due to incorrect application of rates. In Uttar Pradesh, 374 ineligible students were reimbursed scholarship of INR 1.95 crore during 2012-17. Non-adherence to the scheme guidelines relating to revision of income ceiling by Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh with effect from academic session 2013-14 resulted in denial of benefit to eligible students in the States. The States of Punjab, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh were also not covering certain components of the scholarship viz. thesis allowance, book allowance, disability allowance, study tour charges. The Ministry was unable to implement PMS-SC through National Scholarship Portal due to technical issues and decided to implement the same through State portals. However, the State portals lacked both general and application controls required for ensuring access security and providing assurance that transactions are valid, authorized, complete and accurate. In Punjab, Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh, audit noticed discrepancies in data generated by the State portals with financial implication of INR 455.98 crore that necessitates a comprehensive investigation by Ministry as well as States to obviate the risk of irregular payment and malfeasance. Institutional mechanisms for monitoring and grievance redressal including internal audits, periodic inspections and appointment of grievance redressal officers were either not in place or practically non-operational. The Ministry had also not carried out any comprehensive evaluation of the implementation of the scheme to identify changes needed to enhance its effectiveness and ensure achievement of its objectives.Item Infructuous Expenditure on Science and Technology Park at Netaji Subhash Institute of Technology Delhi(CAG of India, 30-06-2015) CAG of IndiaNon pursuance of the project of Science and Technology Park by Netaji Subhash Institute of Technology resulted in infructuous expenditure of ₹ 75.94 lakh on preparation of Detailed Project Report /Feasibility Report and advertisements.Item Performance Audit on Tribal Sub Plan Schemes in Education Domain in Madhya Pradesh(CAG of India, 22-07-2015) CAG of IndiaTribal Sub Plan (TSP) was initiated by the Government of India (GoI) during the Fifth Five-Year Plan period. TSP is seen as critical in bridging the development gap between the ST people and others, with direct plan resources across the Union Ministries and Departments in the States at least in proportion to the ST population. For Education Sector, GoI allotted funds under TSP for implementation of Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), National Programme of Mid Day Meal (NPMDM) and Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyaan (RMSA) in Madhya Pradesh. The SSA was introduced (2003) for implementation of Universal Elementary Education (UEE) for children in the age group of 06-14 years with greater emphasis on girls. Primary and Upper primary level education is provided under this Programme. The NPMDM was introduced (1995) for providing nutritional support and increasing attendance of children in schools. RMSA(launched in 2009) was implemented to widen the secondary level education with emphasis on enrolment of girls, Schedule Caste (SCs) and Scheduled Tribe (STs) in the age group of 14-18 years. Main audit findings are as mentioned below: 1. Optimum utilisation of funds was not ensured and persistent savings during the period 2011-14 was observed in SSA, RMSA and NPMDM. 2. Preparation of Annual Work Plan and Budget of NPMDM and submission to GoI for approval was delayed affecting timely release of Central funds. 3. Despite implementation of SSA, there were 33,000 ‘out of school’ children; of them 13,000 could not be brought into mainstream during the year 2013-14 in the tribal districts. In the test-checked schools drop out rate of ST children was higher than that of the total children of all categories. 4. Availability of basic amenities and infrastructure such as drinking water, girl toilets, utensils, furniture in schools was inadequate under SSA and NPMDM. 5. Under RMSA, 13 per cent habitations were not covered with high schools within the radius of five kilometres as of March 2014.Item Performance Audit on Procurement and Free Distribution of Laptops and Tablets to Students in Uttar Pradesh(CAG of India, 26-03-2015) CAG of IndiaWith a view to keep students abreast with technology, GoUP decided (March 2012) to distribute laptops and tablets, free of cost, to them. Laptops were to be distributed to those who had passed class XII examination in 2012 and were pursuing higher education. The tablets were to be distributed to those who had passed Class X examination and were pursuing education in Class XI/ Industrial Training Institute/ Polytechnics or where minimum qualification was having passed Class X. This Performance Audit represents several deficiencies that came to light during the audit.Item IT Audit of Online Examination System of West Bengal Central School Service Commission(CAG of India, 11-07-2019) CAG of IndiaWest Bengal Central School Service Commission (WBCSSC) was constituted in November 1997 under West Bengal School Service Commission Act, 1997. It was entrusted with the recruitment process of teaching and non-teaching staff in Government aided schools in West Bengal by conducting Regional Level Selection Tests (RLSTs). From 2009, WBCSSC introduced an online system for conducting the recruitment process named as Integrated Online Examination System. A Performance Audit of WBCSSC was conducted during January and July 2017 covering seven RLSTs to obtain an assurance that adequate controls were in place to ensure confidentiality, integrity, transparency and reliability of the system. The audit revealed certain inadequacies in the implementation process, described below: 1. Best practices for development of system like User Requirement Specification, System Development Life Cycle, Data dictionary and Virtual Private Network connectivity were not followed which was likely to result in non-achievement of desired objectives. 2. Access controls were not properly defined and enforced resulting non-fixation of responsibility for errors of omission and commission. 3. The shortcomings of the system were used to intentionally manipulate the results to illegally benefit ineligible candidates. Changing the caste category, increasing the marks of academic scores, improperly escalating written examination marks, etc. of ineligible candidates would be tantamount to cheating. 4. Deficiencies in mapping the business and fundamental rules in the system deprived eligible candidates the scope to appear in the Personality test.Item Compliance Audit on Bihar State Textbook Publishing Corporation(CAG of India, 24-07-2018) CAG of IndiaThe Company unnecessarily renewed the services of a consultant for three years paying INR 1.08 crore, even though the consultant had already given its report, which the Company failed to act on, rendering infructuous the entire expenditure of INR 1.44 crore over the four years. Failure to act on the recommendations of the Consultant also resulted in avoidable payment of penalty of INR 50.27 crore.Item Performance Audit on Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agriculture University(CAG of India, 26-11-2019) CAG of IndiaHaryana Agricultural University was established in February 1970 at Hisar and renamed (31 October 1991) as Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar (the University) with main objectives to impart education in agriculture, agricultural engineering, home science and other allied sciences; advancement of learning and research; and to undertake the extension of such sciences to the rural people in the State. A performance audit of the University brought out deficiencies in financial management, manpower management and infrastructure development which impaired the ability of the University to achieve its overall objectives. Some of the significant audit findings are summarised below: 1. Grants of INR 3.12 crore were lying unspent as source and purpose for which the grants were received were not known. Temporary advances of INR 22.22 crore remained unadjusted. (Paragraphs 2.1.6.2 and 2.1.6.3) 2. There was shortfall in enrollment in PG Diploma and MBA courses ranging between 40 and 56 per cent in College of Agriculture, Hisar and College of Basic Sciences and Humanities, Hisar. (Paragraph 2.1.7.1) 3. There was shortage of 55 per cent teaching staff and 41 per cent non-teaching staff in the University. (Paragraph 2.1.7.2) 4. There was lack of basic amenities in hostels of University campus; the maintenance of two hostels was very poor. Similarly, condition of Brahmsarovar hostel located at Kaul was very poor.(Paragraphs 2.1.7.5 and 2.1.7.6) 5. Tissue culture laboratory was lying non-functional for want of specialized scientist. (Paragraphs 2.1.7.8) 6. Out of 100 research projects funded by other agencies, only 49 research projects were completed and 51 projects remained incomplete. (Paragraph 2.1.8.1) 7. Out of 56 technologies identified for Intellectual Property Rights (IPR), IPRs were obtained in respect of only 13 technologies. (Paragraph 2.1.8.3) 8. Only 44 per cent and 50 per cent cultivable land of Ram Dhan Singh Seeds Farm was utilised during Kharif and Rabi seasons respectively. Further, there was failure of crops in Kharif and Rabi seasons due to not making arrangement for irrigation despite availability of funds. (Paragraph 2.1.9.1 (i)) 9. Out of nine Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) test checked, there was under utilisation of cultivable land in five KVKs. (Paragraph 2.1.10.1) 10. New crop varieties were not propagated through Front Line Demonstrations (FLDs) in a large number of new varieties; on the other hand FLDs were conducted on old varieties. Further, there were cases of non-adoption of new crop varieties by farmers. (Paragraph 2.1.10.2) 11. Community radio stations were not established in six KVKs despite release of funds of INR 1.18 crore during 2011-13. (Paragraph 2.1.10.3)