Social audit of mid day meal scheme in Punjab

Research studies on mid day meal scheme suggested the requirement of active community monitoring to ensure quality, transparency, safety and hygiene. Social audit procedures were adopted in various states to enhance the quality of scheme. In two districts of Punjab, social audit of mid day meal scheme initiated in 2015–16. Social audit has put forward various problems like irregularity in delivery of food grains, cooking cost and gas cylinders; safety and hygiene problems; and issues related to poor quality of drinking water. Social audit also highlighted the positive effect of mid day meal scheme on students’ attendance and social cohesion. Participation of community in social audit procedures provides an opportunity to the ultimate users to scrutinize the development initiatives for quality enhancement of the scheme.