Special focus on children's health and nutrition, Yogi Govt

working to improve PM Poshan (Midday Meal) scheme

Instructions to ensure food grains, cleanliness, security

and kitchen arrangements before school reopens

Detailed action plan released to provide quality and safe

mid-day meals

Lucknow, 18 June (HS): Under the leadership of Chief

Minister Yogi Adityanath, the Uttar Pradesh government is prioritizing

education, as well as the health, nutrition, and secure future of children. In

line with this vision, a comprehensive action plan is being implemented to

strengthen the PM Poshan (Midday Meal) scheme across the state before schools

reopen on June 25 after the summer vacation.

To ensure quality, safe, and nutritious meals are available

to school children from day one, all arrangements, from food availability to

kitchen cleanliness, drinking water, fire safety, and food preparation, must be

made in a timely manner. In this regard, Prem Ranjan Singh, Director of the

Midday no Meal Authority, Uttar Pradesh, has issued detailed guidelines to all

districts.

The PM Nutrition Scheme is a key tool for child nutrition:

The PM Nutrition Scheme is not simply considered a food distribution system. It

is also an important tool for improving children's health, nutritional status,

school attendance, and learning. This is why special emphasis has been placed

on completing all necessary preparations and ensuring strict adherence to

established standards before schools reopen.

State Minister of State for Basic Education (Independent

Charge) Sandeep Singh said that Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's intention is

to ensure that every child in the state receives nutritious and safe food along

with quality education in school. The PM Nutrition Scheme is the foundation for

children's physical and mental development.

He said that all arrangements for food quality, kitchen

cleanliness, fire safety, drinking water, and kitchen gardens should be in

place before schools reopen. Negligence on any level regarding children's

health and nutrition will not be tolerated. All officials should ensure that

children receive hot, fresh, and nutritious meals according to the prescribed

menu from day one. The scheme should be made more effective by increasing

community participation through Tithi Bhojan and kitchen gardens.

Schools will ensure the availability of grains, pulses,

vegetables, oil, iodized salt, spices, and other essential ingredients for

preparing midday meals according to the prescribed menu. The quality and expiry

dates of all food items will be checked compulsorily. Instructions have also

been given for the safe storage and proper maintenance of food grains and other

materials.

Regular cleaning of cooking and serving areas should be

ensured. Arrangements should be made to clean nets inside and outside kitchens,

mow weeds on the premises, and maintain cleanliness in the food preparation

area. Special cleanliness and proper drainage arrangements have also been

directed around hand pumps and drinking water units installed in schools.

To strengthen the safety of the food preparation process,

instructions have been issued to ensure the availability and working condition

of fire extinguishers in all schools. Cooks will be trained in the use of fire

extinguishers. Instructions have also been issued to regularly inspect gas

cylinder-based stoves, regulators, burners, and other equipment and to

immediately replace faulty equipment.

Special emphasis has been placed on reviving existing

kitchen gardens in schools and developing new ones as needed. The plan is to

provide more nutritious meals to children by promoting the use of locally

available fresh vegetables. Additionally, instructions have been given to

increase community participation and connect society with the child nutrition

campaign through the Tithi Bhojan program.

Midday Meal Authority Director Prem Ranjan Singh said that

providing every child in the state with quality education, safe and nutritious

food in school, is a priority for the government. To this end, all arrangements

under the PM Nutrition Scheme are being strengthened. All officials have been

directed to ensure 100% compliance with all standards related to food quality,

cleanliness, safety, and food preparation. Any laxity in matters related to

children's health and well-being will not be tolerated.

Hindusthan Samachar / Abhishek Awasthi