UP kids to get plates, glasses for mid-day meal on Dhanteras
Over 1 crore students of basic and primary government schools across Uttar Pradesh will enjoy mid-day meals (MDM) in stainless steel plates and glasses from Dhanteras on Friday.
Over 1 crore students of basic and primary government schools across Uttar Pradesh will enjoy mid-day meals (MDM) in stainless steel plates and glasses from Dhanteras on Friday.
Over 1 crore students of basic and primary government schools across Uttar Pradesh will enjoy mid-day meals (MDM) in stainless steel plates and glasses from Dhanteras on Friday. (Handout image)
Chief minister Akhilesh Yadav will present the new utensils to the students of a government school in Mohanlalganj area of state capital Lucknow.
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Initially, the utensils will be distributed in a few blocks but gradually all government schools will be covered in a phased manner and will get the new plates and glasses by December end.
“Till now, the children were required to bring their own utensils from home but the practice will now be a thing of the past,” MDM director Hemant Kumar said.
“At times, children forget to bring glasses and they are served milk or ‘kheer’ in a plate causing inconvenience to them. Once they get new utensils, having meals will be easier for them,” he added.
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Director (basic education) Dinesh Babu Sharma said all arrangements have been made for smooth distribution of the utensils.
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Director (basic education) Dinesh Babu Sharma said all arrangements have been made for smooth distribution of the utensils.
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Experts say the initiative will attract new students and further help in checking dropout rates.
The MDM is a centrally sponsored scheme to boost the universalisation of primary education by increasing enrolment, retention and attendance in primary and upper primary classes.
According to guidelines, cooked meals are to be provided with 450 and 700 calories and 12gm and 20gm protein contents for primary and upper primary school children respectively.
Rajeev Mullick, Assistant Editor, is a Lucknow-based journalist with over 26 years of experience covering governance, public policy and administration in Uttar Pradesh. His reporting focuses on the district administration, the Divisional Commissioner's Office, the Regional Meteorological Centre, and government policies relating to technical, higher, secondary and primary education. Known for impactful public-interest journalism, his investigations have led to significant policy attention, including a report on deficiencies in a state-run school footwear distribution scheme that prompted widespread national coverage and High Court intervention. He broke the story on the Uttar Pradesh government's One District One Cuisine initiative, highlighting the inclusion of sweets and the exclusion of non-vegetarian dishes, triggering widespread public debate. He covered Mahakumbh 2025 at Prayagraj, reports on the event's administrative, logistical and civic dimensions. From 2012 to 2024, he headed the Lucknow City Bureau, leading coverage of the state's administrative and civic developments while mentoring young reporters. He loves to travel, listen to music. He is fond of eating good food both veg and non veg. He has travelled to several states like West Bengal, Uttarakhand, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Family Nadu, Kerela, Bihar, Jharkhand and home state UP.
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