The Himachal Pradesh government has approved the provision of supplementary nutritional items twice a week along with mid-day meal for students from Nursery to Class 8, officials said on Wednesday. For this purpose, the government has approved an amendment in the Mukhya Mantri Bal Paushtik Aahaar Yojana, aiming to further strengthen nutritional support provided to schoolchildren and promote health and well-being, they said. In a press statement issued here, chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said, “Under the initiative, students will be provided a boiled egg or fresh fruit, preferably banana or apple, twice a week, preferably on Wednesday and Friday, according to the choice of students or their guardians.” Earlier, these items were served once a week.
The mid-day meal teacher-in-charge, with the assistance of cook-cum-helpers, will ensure implementation at the school level. The initiative will be monitored by principals, headmasters, centre head teachers, head teachers, school management committees and other supervisory authorities. The items will be procured fresh from the local market at school level. The required budget will be allocated to block elementary education officers (BEEOs) through the treasury route on the basis of student enrolment.