It was kicked off as part of populist measure to entice voters by the Congress during sixties, seventies and eighties. Later, most of the political formations started using this as a tool to keep electorates in good humour.

Though, emerges from pork-barrel politics, the mid-day meal has served to bring down drop-out rates in schools where the scheme is properly implemented. But unfortunately, this too is hit by corruption as witnessed in Jhabua district of Madhya Pradesh recently.

A probe exposed siphoning off of Rs 53 lakh funds meant for mid-day meals in Petlawad block of tribal-dominated Jhabua district. A state government official allegedly swindled money from the mid-day meals fund with the active support of self-help groups (SHGs). They transferred the money into fictitious accounts operated by the SHGs.

A probe conducted by Jhabua district administration revealed that the fraud was committed when Petlawad Janpad Panchayat released the funds between September 2012 and September 2013.

Petlawad Janpad Panchayat chief executive officer Virendra Singh Rawat lodged the fraud case on Thursday against panchayat office accountant Jam Singh Shehlot and 42 heads and secretaries of SHGs, for colluding with accountant to skim funds under sections 420, 467, 471 and 409 of the IPC.

Encouraged by success of crafty game, the shrewd operators also opened bank accounts in name of fictitious persons and even a popular local festival, Bhagoria, embodying love.

The scam was skillfully carried out in three ways. Bogus primary and secondary schools were opened in panchayat record and shown in existing and ghost settlements. Number of students in primary and secondary schools was inflated by several times to get more funds for SHGs running MDM in these schools.

And fake SHGs were created in panchayat records so that they can lay hands on more public fund by getting the money released for non-existent schools, an official of Jhabua administration said.

"Most of Rs 53 lakh, which was deposited into bank accounts of the SHGs, which exaggerated figures of students in existing schools, have already been withdrawn by the swindlers," the officer revealed.

The fraud was exposed when details of schools and SHGs were made online under MDM programme in May 2014. Later, the Jhabua administration ordered an in-depth probe.

The Petlawad police has launched operation to arrest them.