Clerk suspended for diverting funds of midday meals scheme to his account

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: An employee who diverted Rs 28 lakh from the fund to provide midday meals to school students has been suspended by the general education department. Following a complaint by the director of general education, a case has been filed against D. Dileep, mid-day meal section clerk, The internal investigation unit of the Department of General Education found the irregularity.

From March 2022 to December 2023, it was found that Rs 27,76,241 was transferred from the single nodal account of the mid-day meal scheme to Dileep's account by forging documents. The transfer of money was done by making a fake entry in the CSS portal of Canara Bank and creating a print advice. Apart from this, on February 23, 2024, he obtained Rs 42,000 from the midday scheme account of SBI Jagathy branch with the forged signature of the senior administrative assistant. Also, it has been alleged that Dileep has received more than Rs 35 lakh from the scheme several times.

This happened when many of the teachers were in debt without getting the money for the meals. The officials has demand that a thorough investigation be conducted in this regard.