Daijiworld Media Network- Jaipur
Jaipur, Mar 5: Rajasthan Education Minister Madan Dilawar on Tuesday ordered a fresh probe into alleged irregularities in the Madrasa Board and mid-day meal scheme under the previous government’s tenure. The move follows serious concerns regarding mismanagement and financial discrepancies in the implementation of these schemes.
Highlighting anomalies in the mid-day meal scheme, Dilawar pointed out that during the COVID-19 pandemic, instead of transferring funds directly to parents’ accounts as advised by the Finance Department, the Education Department chose to distribute food materials. However, despite an official student enrollment of 59.81 lakh, food materials were reportedly allocated for 66.22 lakh students, raising questions over inflated figures and possible misuse of funds.
Citing a Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report, Dilawar alleged that a scam worth Rs 1,705 crore had occurred in procurement tenders. “The previous inquiry into the matter will be scrapped, and a new, independent investigation will be launched,” he announced.
The minister also assured a thorough probe into suspected corruption in the distribution of uniforms under the Madrasa Board.
Reaffirming the state government’s commitment to improving education, Dilawar stressed the importance of moral values, discipline, and practical knowledge in schools. He stated that both families and schools play a crucial role in shaping students’ characters and that the government is taking steps to strengthen the education system accordingly.
Providing an update on key examinations, Dilawar noted that the Rajasthan Eligibility Examination for Teachers (REET) was held on February 27-28, 2025, under strict supervision, with 13.77 lakh candidates appearing. No reports of malpractice or paper leaks were recorded. Similarly, the Pre D.El.Ed. exam (2024) was successfully conducted.
During the discussion on grant demands for education, the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly approved allocations of Rs 218.82 billion for elementary education and Rs 288.30 billion for secondary education through a voice vote.
Announcing reforms in the examination system, Dilawar stated that a re-checking mechanism is being introduced alongside re-totalling through a pilot project. To combat paper leaks and cheating mafias, Secondary Education Board exam papers will now be prepared in sections by different experts.
Under the National Education Policy (NEP), Rajasthan will implement primary education in the mother tongue or local language. “A dictionary has been developed to aid in this transition, and textbooks are being designed as per NEP guidelines,” he added.
In a bid to standardize the appearance of government schools, Dilawar also announced that all state-run schools will be painted in the same colour.