Jaipur: The state education department has ordered district officials to physically inspect milk powder stocks in schools by Aug 5, days after Jaipur police seized 3,000 kg of milk powder meant for students. “The ‘Pannadhai Bal Gopal Yojana,’ run by the state govt, is a highly significant and sensitive public welfare scheme under which milk—prepared from milk powder—is provided to students,” said a senior official.The department said mandated inspections were not being carried out regularly and warned that officials failing to conduct timely checks will face action. “Such incidents (misuse of milk powder) are extremely serious, regrettable, and contrary to the govt’s intent. This situation indicates that effective compliance and continuous monitoring, as previously mandated, are not being ensured at the required level,” added the official. The department has constituted committees at each block level with the chief block education officer as the chairperson, two panchayat elementary education officers (PEEO) or urban cluster education officers (UCEO) as members from every block and one accounts officer from the block.“The committee shall conduct school-wise verification of milk powder stock received in schools under the jurisdiction of the PEEO/UCEO for the year 2025-26 and the first quarter of 2026-27. It must be ensured that this verification is based on school attendance and actual consumption,” said an official.The committee has also been instructed to verify the number of cartons and packets received, available stock, quantity consumed, stock registers, distribution registers, manufacturing dates, and expiry dates.On July 28, officials from Samod police station intercepted a vehicle passing through Chithwadhi village, carrying 3,000 kg of milk powder, earmarked for mid-day meals in govt schools, to be sold in the open market.
