Haryana Hikes Budget for Mid-Day Meal Scheme by 72 Percent | 10 Apr 2023

Why In News?

On April 6, 2023, Haryana Chief Secretary Sanjeev Kaushal told the state level steering committee meeting for mid-day meal scheme held in Chandigarh that the state government has given 14,409 primary school students under Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Nirman (PMPOSHAN) to provide mid-day meal, the budget has been increased by about 72 percent.

Key Points

• A provision of Rs. 661 crores have been made during the current year against the budget of Rs. 384 crores for the Mid Day Meal scheme last year.
• Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Secretary directed the officers to conduct study in various sections regarding enhancement of additional nutritional standards in food and ensure quality and meet nutritional standards of food besides cooking it under hygienic conditions.
• The time schedule for providing food to the students in the schools should be fixed so that the quality of the food can be checked and inspected.
• It is to be noted that the food provided under the scheme includes a variety of food items based on fortified flour, rice and millets.
• It was informed in the meeting that 200 ml 5 flavoured fortified milk is also provided to the students of classes 1 to 8 along with a midday meal at least 3 days a week.