Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India for the year ended March 2023 (Compliance Audit — Civil), Government of Tamil Nadu

This report carries two subject-specific compliance audits — on the enforcement of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, and on the Integrated Child Development Services in Tamil Nadu — together with six compliance audit paragraphs covering the Finance, Health & Family Welfare, Higher Education, Social Welfare & Women Empowerment and Youth Welfare & Sports departments.

State: Tamil Nadu
Audit period: 1 Apr 2022 — 31 Mar 2023
Presented: 29 Apr 2025

Findings

Seventy-seven of the Anganwadi centres sampled, in both government-owned and rented buildings, had no separate kitchen, water facility, toilet or play area.
“Lack of basic infrastructure viz., separate kitchen, water facility, toilets, playing area etc., was noticed in 77 sampled Anganwadi centres functioning in Government owned and rented buildings.”Overview
Of 3,503 Anganwadi buildings sanctioned between 2019 and 2023, 273 were still pending completion as of April 2024, and rationalising or relocating centres was delayed by eight years.
“There was lack of coordination with line departments and delays in construction of buildings of Anganwadi centres. Out of 3,503 buildings sanctioned during 2019-23, 273 buildings were pending completion as of April 2024... Delay of eight years in rationalising/relocating Anganwadi Centres defeated the objective of covering all areas under Integrated Child Development Services.”Overview
Because of vacancies, Anganwadi workers held additional charge of centres between half a kilometre and three kilometres away.
“Due to existence of vacancies, Anganwadi workers held additional charge of other centres located at distances ranging from half a kilometre to three kilometres from each other.”Overview
Delay in getting the state's food analysis laboratories accredited meant samples went to private NABL laboratories, and 19.79 per cent of samples collected expired before they could be analysed.
“Inordinate delay in obtaining accreditation by Food Analysis Laboratories led to samples being sent to NABL accredited private laboratories which resulted in discarding 19.79 per cent of the samples collected, as they had expired even before analysis.”Overview
Since 2012-13 the Commissioner of Food Safety had received 7,433 proposals to penalise food business operators, of which 1,172 — 15.77 per cent — were still awaiting approval, the oldest from 2012-13.
“Since 2012-13, the Commissioner of Food Safety had received 7,433 proposals for imposing penalty on Food Business Operators from the Designated Officers seeking approval for prosecution, out of which 1,172 (15.77 per cent) proposals were pending approval, the earliest of which being from the year 2012-13.”Overview

Findings

Seventy-seven of the Anganwadi centres sampled, in both government-owned and rented buildings, had no separate kitchen, water facility, toilet or play area.

“Lack of basic infrastructure viz., separate kitchen, water facility, toilets, playing area etc., was noticed in 77 sampled Anganwadi centres functioning in Government owned and rented buildings.”Overview

Of 3,503 Anganwadi buildings sanctioned between 2019 and 2023, 273 were still pending completion as of April 2024, and rationalising or relocating centres was delayed by eight years.

“There was lack of coordination with line departments and delays in construction of buildings of Anganwadi centres. Out of 3,503 buildings sanctioned during 2019-23, 273 buildings were pending completion as of April 2024... Delay of eight years in rationalising/relocating Anganwadi Centres defeated the objective of covering all areas under Integrated Child Development Services.”Overview

Because of vacancies, Anganwadi workers held additional charge of centres between half a kilometre and three kilometres away.

“Due to existence of vacancies, Anganwadi workers held additional charge of other centres located at distances ranging from half a kilometre to three kilometres from each other.”Overview

Delay in getting the state's food analysis laboratories accredited meant samples went to private NABL laboratories, and 19.79 per cent of samples collected expired before they could be analysed.

“Inordinate delay in obtaining accreditation by Food Analysis Laboratories led to samples being sent to NABL accredited private laboratories which resulted in discarding 19.79 per cent of the samples collected, as they had expired even before analysis.”Overview

Since 2012-13 the Commissioner of Food Safety had received 7,433 proposals to penalise food business operators, of which 1,172 — 15.77 per cent — were still awaiting approval, the oldest from 2012-13.

“Since 2012-13, the Commissioner of Food Safety had received 7,433 proposals for imposing penalty on Food Business Operators from the Designated Officers seeking approval for prosecution, out of which 1,172 (15.77 per cent) proposals were pending approval, the earliest of which being from the year 2012-13.”Overview