MNS:- On the concluding day of the three-day Bharat Nirman Campaign held at Mini Secretariat Conference hall at DC complex Thoubal the second session in the morning focused on mid-day meal. The main speaker was H. Priyokumar DI, Hqrs. Zonal Education office Thoubal.
He said mid-day meal was first launched in August 1995 across the country. Earlier dry grains were provided to the lower primary and upper primary level students. Now cooked foods are provided to the students. To provide cooked foods to the students cooks too have been appointed.
Mid-day meal programme covers 234 schools in Thoubal Distt having students in the group of class I to V and 23 schools in the same district having students from class VI to VIII. 310 cooks are used in Thoubal district he also said.
The programme, which is a component of the flagship programme was launched by the UPA Government at the centre keeping two sections of the society in view. They are weaker section and disadvantaged group. The disadvantaged group consists of SC/ST, OBC and minority. The weaker sections are those whose annual income does not exceed Rs 40000.
The aim and objects of the programme are to attract young students to the Government and Government aided schools and also to enhance nutritious status of the students. Too many young students come to the school without taking food so they cannot remain till the end of the school hour. If they are given food at half time they will be able to remain till the end of the school. Based on this guiding principle mid day meal programme was launched he also said.
A Government employee wanted to know the criteria adopted in the allotment of food grains to the schools, because some of the schools have minuscule number of students and others are packed to the full. Priyokumar said the food grain is allotted considering the number of students in a school. Another asked the wisdom of including disadvantaged group in the extension of Government programmes. Giving reply he said not all belonging to this section are as better off and wealthy as you see them to be.
Later questions were asked to the participants and winners were given prizes.
Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/mid-day-meal-program-covers-247-schools-in-thoubal-distt/
