Dehradun: 125 government schools (primary and junior) of Dehradun district do not have kitchens yet. Mid-day meals are being prepared in the open in these schools. This poses a threat to the quality of food.
When this truth came to light before DM Savin Bansal during the review of PM Poshan Shakti Nirman Yojana, he immediately issued one crore rupees from the untied fund and directed to construct kitchens in schools. The DM said that there should be no negligence in this work. Kitchens for mid-day meals should be constructed in all schools as soon as possible. He said, pay special attention to the quality and nutrients in the food.
Kitchens will be repaired in 695 dilapidated schools
District Magistrate Savin Bansal held a meeting of the implementation and monitoring committee to review the Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Nirman Yojana in the Collectorate auditorium on Wednesday. In this, instructions were given after seriously discussing the progress of PM Poshan Yojana, quality of mid-day meal, additional supplementary nutrition and various aspects related to the development of children. The DM also instructed to include the repair of kitchens in 695 dilapidated schools in the district plan.
Remove aluminium utensils from the kitchen
The DM said, all cooking utensils should be made of iron. All aluminium utensils should be removed immediately. Actually, the DM’s intention behind this is that children can get maximum iron from the food cooked in iron utensils. Cooking in aluminium utensils reduces nutrients like iron and calcium in the food. This can cause health problems. Cooking in aluminium utensils reduces the absorption of nutrients. Aluminium absorbs elements like iron and calcium, due to which they are not able to reach the food. This weakens the bones of children. The DM said, use school grant to buy iron utensils. If required, budget will be provided from Project Utkarsh.
Bhojan Mata will get assistant in 50 schools with more number of students
The DM said, for the first time this arrangement has been made in the district that in 50 schools with more number of students, the district administration has made additional arrangement of a local woman, who will be the assistant of the female Bhojan Mata. The District Magistrate directed that the local woman should be deployed at the prescribed rate. For this, budget will be given from the district plan.
School said – no budget, DM said – will get it from the mining trust fund
The DM was told that 91 kitchens in the schools of the district are in dilapidated condition. The school does not have sufficient budget to repair the kitchen in 604 schools. The District Magistrate directed the Education Officer to immediately provide its proposal. Sufficient funds will be given for the repair of the kitchen from the mining trust fund.
No drinking water connection in 14 schools
On the lack of drinking water connection in 14 schools of the district, the District Magistrate said that drinking water connection will be done soon from Jal Jeevan Mission. The District Magistrate directed that under the National Child Health Program, ensure improvement in the overall quality of life of children and timely care of sick children.
A look at mid-day meal
– Schools taking advantage of PM Poshan Yojana – 1306
– Primary level students getting benefit – 41049
– Junior level students getting benefit – 29618
– Schools taking benefit of mid-day meal supply from centralized kitchen – 638
– Bhojanmata working in schools of the district – 2118
