Mid-day meal scheme was boon in tackling malnutrition - Minister Bhargava

Bhopal: Panchayat and Rural Development Minister Gopal Bhargava has said that 'Mid-Day Meal Program' has become a boon in the drive conducted to tackle malnutrition in the state. Jaggery and peanut chikki is being provided to 11.50 lakh students in 25000 primary schools of 85 development blocks as additional nutritious diet. Similarly, every day, tasty meal is being given to more than 60 lakh children of 1.14 lakh primary and middle schools under Mid Day Meal programme.

 Minister Bhargava informed that the system to provide cooked food to children in schools has been implemented in the year 2004, under Mid-Day Meal Program in the state. In the first phase, the scheme was introduced only for primary schools.

The meal programme was launched for middle school students in the year 2008. He informed that 60.31 lakh children, out of 64.11 lakh registered in 1.14 lakh primary and middle schools in the state at present, are getting benefit under the scheme.

Instructions have been issued to provide meal with maintaining transparency, regularity and quality control, by preparing meal in the schools through self help groups. Food grains are supplied directly to the groups from state level.

 Bhargava said that the scheme has been incorporated for tackling malnutrition. Additional nutritious diet is provided to 11.50 lakh students in 25000 schools of 85 development blocks three days in a week. He informed that LPG connections have been given to 35416 schools by the state government, which are used for cooking meal. Bhargava informed that clean kitchen awards of Rs 50,000, Rs 30,000 and Rs 20,000 are given for promoting hygiene in kitchen, nutrition in the food in every district.-Window To News