While the Government is making all possible effort to make mid-day meals (MDM) nutritious, private schools across the city are finding it difficult to stop their students from consuming unhealthy junk food in and out of the school.
Recently, Bridgeford School authorities, who had been trying to get rid of the street food vendors for a long time, had asked the administration for help. Despite administration’s stern warning and imposition of `500 as fine, the vendors are still found placing their stalls outside the school gates.
“We have strict rules for regulating the junk food within the school campus but outside the premises it is beyond our control. We have been trying to get rid of the unhygienic eatable selling vendors, right across the road but to no avail. Administration is also proving helpless in this direction,” said School Principal Seema Chitlangia. Notably, city’s many renowned schools are finding it difficult to restrict the sale of junk food outside school premises.
“It is nearly impossible for the school authorities to check sale of junk food outside the school premises and specially those schools which are situated in residential areas or closer to market. The administration should find out some effective measures to curb this menace,” said Delhi Public School Principal Dr Ram Singh.
To improve nutrition among school goers Union Women and Child Development Minister Maneka Gandhi had proposed a ban on sale of junk food in and around the school premises across the country on June 4. The basic idea behind this was to make available good quality and safe food to the students for healthy life. Director of Secondary Education DN Ojha said, “All the schools have been informed to ban junk food within the school premises. We have also asked the administration to look after the sale of unhealthy food within the radius of 500 yards.”
Surprisingly, these junk food items are popular not only among the students but also their parents. Burger and Samosa stalls placed outside ST Francis school entrance gate easily makes sale of around 300 burgers and 200-250 samosas every day. Since these fast foods are available in the evening as well, so parents who come to pick up their ward buy burger and samosas from the stalls as takeaway.
“Fast foods are popular with both students as well as their parents. We have seen parents offering their ward junk food available outside the school premises,” said ST Francis School Principal Father Manoj Kullu.
However, there are three to four schools here which have canteen facility- Taurian World School, Sarla Birla Public School and Sapphire School. little children during intervals and lunch break flock here eagerly for noodles cup, pizzas, cutlets and rolls.
“What can be done, if the students demand for these items onlyIJ We are bound to provide their demands after all it is for them only. Generally, students opt for fast food items only and even parents who come in prefer cold drinks available in tetra packs over real juice cans. If we stop providing them fast food then the parents will send it in their lunch box,” said canteen staff of Taurian World School.
Meanwhile, rising level of obesity among children is concerning parents as well.
Ritu Mukherjee , a parent, said, “I give my child healthy food stuff in his lunch box but the unhealthy food available outside the school premises is making it hazardous. Something should be done about it.”