The HRD Ministry on Wednesday decided to introduce the practice of Gujarat model of mid-day meal scheme across the country. In a meeting of the Empowered Committee, chaired by HRD Minister Smriti Irani, the decision was taken to adopt Gujarat’s Tithi Bhojan where community members contribute to improve quality of the school mid-day meals on a good occasion or event, birthdays, festival etc.
Under the concept, villagers would sponsor the food for children on different occasions and make contributions by distributing sweets or any kind of sweet dish besides the support by providing utensils and other logistical support.
The State education secretaries had earlier in a meeting in August had asked the States to explore possibilities of involving institutions like gurudwaras, trusts, mosques, temples in serving MDM to ensure better community participation and to enhance awareness about the scheme.
The Committee reviewed the implementation of the MDM scheme and decided to strengthen the monitoring system as well as to ensure community participation in the execution of the MDM scheme. Representatives of State Gover-nments, Food and Nutrition experts and senior officers of the Central Government attended the meeting.