The Basic Education Department of the state blames the State Midday Meal Authority (SMDMA) for the drawbacks in the scheme.

'We had sent our recommendations to increase and release the conversion cost on time to the authority a long time back and the file is gathering dust. We keep following up the matter but with no success,' an official of the department said on condition of anonymity.

The authority, however, claims that the funds and food grains are released on time.

'The conversion cost of July to September and the food grains have been sent to all the districts and the central government has also agreed to increase the conversion cost after the recommendation of the state government. We hope that the conversion cost will be increased soon,' Santosh Kumar, additional director of SMDMA told IANS.

Besides, most of the districts of the state are yet to receive a report from village heads about how the money allotted to them has been spent to provide midday meals for children, he added.

'We are making additional efforts to make the scheme more effective,' said the official.