Monday would be funday in state-run schools as the government has decided to distribute fruits among students as morning snacks.
Fruits would only be distributed on Monday and if it happens to be a holiday, then it will be distributed the next day. The government has issued directives saying that in no case would cut fruits be distributed among the students.
“This scheme will come into operation after summer vacation in this academic session,” a government spokesman said in a statement issued in lucknow on Wednesday. Post summer vacation, the schools will reopen on July 4 – which is aMonday.
The official said that all schools where mid-day meal is distributed would follow this directive. Students would be given easily available seasonal fruits like guava, banana, pear, orange, custard apple and peach. The scheme has been launched to ensure good health of the students.
As per the directive, only average sized fruits would be distributed after a thorough wash. So fruits like papaya and water melon would not be distributed among students.
On why Monday was chosen, the official explained that it will act as a motivation for the students to come to school after aSunday. “Fruits would be distributed as morning snack and there whould be enough time between the fruit snack and mid-day meal,” he said.
Education minister Ahmad Hasan said that the fruit distribution scheme will cost Rs 4 per children and the government has made budgetary allocation of Rs 200 crore for this purpose.