The Chhattisgarh Government has announced that the mid-day meal would be offered to the schoolchildren even on Republic Day and Independence Day. The decision is effective from the current financial year itself (2014-15), according to an official statement issued here on Friday. The Chhattisgarh Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Protection Department has released more than 82,000 quintal of rice for Mid-day meals in schools for the current month, officials stated.
The rice would be supplied to different districts through Public Distribution System in all 27 districts. For primary schools, 43,264 quintal and for middle schools 39,385 quintal rice has been allocated. Meanwhile, it may be recalled that with a strong belief on their competence, the Chhattisgarh Government has entrusted women self-help groups (SHGs) of the State with the 100 per cent responsibility of preparing and distributing ready-to-eat food, hot-cooked meal and breakfast to Anganwadi centres, officials stated.
Nearly 1,568 women self-help groups are conducting the preparation and distribution work of ready-to-eat food. likewise, distribution of snacks and hot-cooked meal is looked after by 22,226 women self-help groups of the State. In Anganbadi centres, children of age-group— 6 months to three years as well as pregnant and lactating mothers are provided ready-to-eat food, murra laddoos and double fortified salt through take-home-ration system.
Moreover, the children between age group of 3-6 years are provided breakfast and hot-cooked meal as per the decided menu. The amount for medicine kit distributed at Anganwadi centre has also been increased from Rs600 to Rs1,000. For overall development of teenage girls, Sabla Yojana is conducted in 10 districts of the State while in other districts, Kishori Shakti Yojana is operated.