The School education board wants a four-fold hike in funds for the midday meal scheme. The demand came after a recent health survey found many children studying in kindergartens and schools run by Pune Municipal Corporation in poor health and lacking nourishment.
The administration gets around Rs 6 per student per day for the midday meal scheme. It should be increased to Rs 20, board officials said.
The study showed 4,470 of the 15,000 children had protein energy malnutrition, low blood levels and were underweight. Experts and NGOs dealing with child-health issues conducted the survey from July to November 2015 and the results were declared in December.The administration will introduce eggs, bananas, chikki and nutritious biscuits. The funds will be set aside in the annual school board budget. Meanwhile, the administration will make a stop-gap arrangement till March.
Source: http://goo.gl/1Fpk4F
