Over 30 lakh students up to standard eight, studying in State Government-run 40,000 schools could enjoy nutritious food now as Chief Minister Raghubar Das launched ‘Additional Nutrition Scheme at Rajkiyakrit Middle School, Jagannathpur on Friday, adding eggs or fruits thrice a week to the midday meal.
The purpose of the scheme is to prevent malnutrition. Jharkhand at present is the second state in the country with the lowest malnutrition level. Das vowed to change the scenario within five years of his tenure.
A fund of around Rs40 crore has been allocated for the scheme covering 30 lakh students of 40,000 Government schools in the State. Each school will receive a weekly fund of Rs12 for serving one egg (curry) and seasonal fruit for per student on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Saraswati Vahinis or Mata Committee of each school is authorized to purchase the food items.
Since 2014, students were served one egg on every Friday. In September last year, Human Resource Development (HRD) department had pitched in for the tender option in purchasing eggs citing transparency. However, it was cancelled and local women (Saraswati Vahini or Mata Committee) were involved in order to generate employment.
The CM, on the request of Hatia legislator Navin Jaiswal has decided to hike the salary of women forming the Mata Committee. “Matas will soon receive a salary of Rs1500. We will include their pay rise in 2015-16 financial year budget. Also, we have decided to provide shoes, socks and stationery items to students apart from uniform,” said the CM.
With the start of this scheme, Das is hoping to maintain full attendance in schools. “Our ministers will be visiting villages from the month of April to ensure 100 per cent attendance in every school,” said the CM.
The Government is taking interest to launch more such initiatives to eradicate malnutrition and stop the drop-out of girls from schools. The CM declared to recruit around 12,000 Sakhis from next month. These ladies will reach out to villagers through door-to-door campaign explaining methods of preventing malnutrition.
Meanwhile, students of Jagannathpur school complained of not receiving eggs regularly. “Sometimes we are denied egg or served half portion of an egg. Moreover, the rice and vegetable given along with dal is not cooked properly,” said Chandni Kumari, a student of standard seven. Kumari’s batchmate Babita said they are hardly allowed to take rice, vegetable or dal for the second time.
Both CM and HRD Minister Dr Neera Yadav served the egg curry and rice to students of class three. Those who did not take egg were given apple. Anjali, who was served egg by the CM, said it is for the first time they are served MDM in new utensils. “We have to bring plates from home to have the MDM. Today seems a special day,” she added. However, teachers denied the complaints of the students and said they used to serve half eggs as there was no specific budget allotment which caused hassles.