The CAG report, which was tabled in the House last week, underlined how the budget allocation of Rs 1.51 crore had lapsed due to the Tribal Development department not withdrawing the amount from the government treasury. Another grant of Rs 7.06 crore for setting up a Sainik School lapsed, while Rs 2.50 crore allotted for the construction of buildings of two Eklavya model schools were blocked due to non-allotment of land. The department also failed to purchase utensils for mid-day meal kitchen sheds in tribal areas despite the release of funds.

The report also said that the government had in 2002 decided to establish a Sainik School at Khncha village in Sabarkantha to help tribal students compete and secure higher posts in defence forces. For this, it had made a budgetary provision of Rs 7.06 crore. The Roads and Buildings department had prepared plans and estimates for the construction of the school building and submitted the same to the Education department for approval. However, the delay in according the approval resulted in the lapse of fund, thus depriving the tribal students of a regular school building.

Similarly, the Tribal Development department had sanctioned Rs 50 crore for setting up two Eklavya model schools, one each at Ambaji in Banaskantha and Kevadia in Narmada district. The scrutiny of relevant records revealed that no expenditure was incurred and the entire amount lay unutilised with the nodal agency concerned.

The report also revealed as to how the disagreement between the Mid-Day Meal Commissionerate and Gujarat Rural Industries Marketing Corporation (GRIMCO) resulted in the non-purchase of cooking utensils under the MDM programme and deprived tribal students of this basic facility.