Dhenkanal, Aug. 30: A state government audit has robbed nearly 100 mentally challenged students in a school near here of midday meal. After almost 13 years of the students enjoying the facility, the government claims they are not entitled to it.

The district administration stopped the scheme after an audit team inspected Jivanjyoti, a school for the mentally challenged, in January and pointed to procedural loopholes in covering the school under the scheme.

The team in its report said that the school, which has students till Class VIII, was not entitled to the benefit.

The order has surprised the school authorities as the students were enjoying midday meal since 2000.

“All grants that the school was getting have been stopped after the audit report,” said a local resident.

“Ever since the school started in 2000, the then district collector had introduced the midday meal scheme here. Students from various parts of the state study here. But, the special audit team of the government questioned the implementation of the scheme. We have met the commissioner Usha Padhee in and have urged her to intervene,” said Pradyumna Mahapatra, the school secretary.