In a proactive move to enhance the nutritional content of mid-day meals, the Punjab State Mid-Day Meal Society has announced the weekly distribution of bananas to approximately 19 lakh students enrolled in government and government-aided schools. The initiative targets students from UKG to Class VIII across the state.
Weekly Banana Service Initiative:
Starting from January 1 and continuing until March 31, the society’s state General Manager has instructed school heads and district education officers to provide a banana to each student every Monday. This effort aims to contribute to the overall health and well-being of students by incorporating nutritious fruits into their mid-day meals.
Financial Allocation and Cooking Costs:
To support the implementation of this initiative, schools will receive Rs 5 per banana for each student. The cooking cost per child is specified as Rs 5.45 per day for UKG to Class V, while upper primary classes (VI-VIII) incur a cost of Rs 8.17 per head.
Social Audit Insights:
The decision to introduce bananas into the mid-day meal program stems from a social audit conducted at Punjab University in 10 districts under the scheme, as directed by the Central government. Parents participating in the audit suggested the inclusion of healthy fruits in the mid-day meal, emphasizing the importance of promoting nutritional well-being among students.
This initiative not only aligns with the goal of providing balanced and nutritious meals to schoolchildren but also reflects the responsiveness of educational authorities to community feedback and the promotion of healthy dietary habits.
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