Pune: The Directorate of Primary Education has announced an audit of the Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Nirman Scheme to ensure proper utilization of grants provided to schools. The audit will cover the expenditure on nutritional meals from 2020-21 to 2024. Non-compliance in submitting required information may result in punitive and administrative action.

Director of Primary Education, Sharad Gosavi, has instructed schools to ensure adherence to regulations governing the scheme. Grants under the PM Poshan Shakti Nirman Scheme are distributed through the Zilla Parishad and the Directorate of Primary Education. Schools are mandated to utilize the grants in accordance with these rules.

To conduct the audit, a certified audit firm has been appointed. The review will examine records from schools, panchayat committees, zilla parishads, and municipal corporations across the state for the specified period. Schools eligible for the scheme must submit their data online. Principals and headmasters are responsible for ensuring the accuracy and completeness of the data, which must be submitted based on existing school records.

The auditing process will be conducted in phases, with district-wise schedules communicated to respective authorities. Field-level verification will involve detailed examination of school records and their alignment with submitted data. Primary Education Officers in each district are tasked with coordinating the audit process and ensuring all schools are included.

The audit applies to all schools benefitting from the school nutrition meal scheme, including those under panchayat committees, zilla parishads, municipal corporations, and municipalities. Schools have been explicitly instructed not to pay any fees or charges related to the audit, as no such payments are required.