PM POSHAN: Govt finds inordinate delay in incurring expenditure of funds

Srinagar, June 22: The authorities have expressed concern over the delay in incurring expenditure of funds released for clearing the pending liability of 2023-24 under the Prime Minister’s Poshan Shakti (PM POSHAN) Scheme in Jammu and Kashmir.
According to a communiqué issued by the Jammu and Kashmir Mission Director PM POSHAN, the funds worth Rs 5454.67 lakh were released on June 14, 2024, to clear the pending claims of 2023-24 under the scheme. However, despite repeated reminders, only Rs 12.05 crores have been incurred till date, as per the Public Financial Management System (PFMS) Portal.
The Mission Director has warned that if the expenditure targets are not met, the Ministry of Education, Government of India may delay the release of the first installment under the scheme for the financial year 2024-25. It is mandatory to incur an expenditure of at least 75% of the available funds before submitting a proposal for the release of the first installment.
The communiqué has directed the Director School Education Kashmir (DSEK) and Director School Education Jammu (DSEK) to instruct Chief Education Officers under their control to incur expenditure against released funds immediately to make them eligible for submission of proposals for the release of the first installment. (KNO)