Nutritional Boost for Schoolchildren: Supplementary Items to Be Served Twice a Week Along with Mid-Day Meal.
Shimla:
The state government has approved an amendment to the Mukhya Mantri Bal Paushtik Aahaar Yojna to provide supplementary nutritional items to students from Nursery to Class VIII twice a week along with the regular Mid-Day Meal.
The initiative is aimed at strengthening nutritional support for children studying in government schools and promoting their health, growth and overall well-being.
Under the revised arrangement, students will be provided either a boiled egg or fresh fruit, preferably banana or apple, twice a week. The supplementary items will preferably be served on Wednesdays and Fridays, with students or their guardians being given the choice between the available options. Earlier, these nutritional items were provided only once a week.
At the school level, the Mid-Day Meal Teacher-in-Charge, with the assistance of Cook-cum-Helpers, will be responsible for ensuring the proper implementation of the initiative. The programme will be monitored by Principals, Headmasters, Centre Head Teachers, Head Teachers, School Management Committees (SMCs) and other supervisory authorities.
The government has also laid emphasis on local procurement and community participation. The supplementary items will be purchased fresh from the local market at the school level. Wherever feasible, Self Help Groups, Mahila Mandals and School Management Committees will also be involved in the procurement and implementation process.
Funds to Be Released on Enrolment Basis
The required funds for the programme will be allocated to Block Elementary Education Officers (BEEOs) through the treasury route on the basis of student enrolment. The BEEOs will release funds to schools under their jurisdiction according to the number of enrolled students and the prescribed per-child rate.
The funds will be released to schools on a quarterly basis. Schools will be required to maintain separate records of expenditure and submit monthly as well as quarterly expenditure statements to the concerned BEEOs.
The BEEOs will consolidate the information received from schools and submit reports to the respective Deputy Directors of Elementary Education. The Deputy Directors will subsequently furnish district-wise reports to the Directorate of Elementary Education.
Focus on Food Safety and Hygiene
The government has directed that strict attention be paid to food safety and hygiene throughout the procurement, storage, preparation and distribution process.
Eggs and fruits provided to students must be fresh, clean, safe and of good quality and must be stored under hygienic conditions. Fruits are required to be properly cleaned before distribution, while eggs must be thoroughly boiled.
The government has further directed that Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) guidelines and norms be followed in letter and spirit during procurement, storage, preparation and distribution of the supplementary nutritional items.
CM Sukhu Stresses Children’s Health and Nutrition
Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said the state government was committed to improving the health, nutrition and overall well-being of children studying in government schools.
He said providing the nutritional top-up twice a week would supplement the regular Mid-Day Meal and provide additional nutritional support to schoolchildren, contributing to their healthy growth and development.
The Chief Minister said that effective monitoring, community participation and strict adherence to food safety standards would be essential for the successful implementation of the initiative.
He directed the concerned departments and field-level functionaries to ensure that students receive fresh and quality nutritional items while maintaining high standards of hygiene, transparency and accountability.
The revised initiative is expected to strengthen the nutritional component of the school meal programme and provide children with an additional source of essential nutrients during the school week.
