Lucknow. With the aim of including school children in the festive joy, a special meal was organized in the council schools of Uttar Pradesh on Dhanteras. Under the PM Nutrition Scheme run under the leadership of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, halwa was served with the mid-day meal to more than 1.42 crore students in more than 1.33 lakh schools of the state. Through this initiative, an attempt was made to give children the joy of the festival and make their food more diverse and interesting.
Shared the joy of the festival with children
On Dhanteras, the festival is celebrated by preparing dishes and sweets in homes. Taking this tradition to schools, special food was prepared for the children. A large number of students tasted halwa in this state-wide event. Its objective was to create a joyful environment for children in schools and connect them with the joy of the festival.
Halwa and upma included in weekly menu
Under the PM Nutrition Scheme, along with providing regular mid-day meal to the students, emphasis is also being laid on diversifying its menu. In this sequence, Halwa and Upma have been included in the weekly meal programme. As per the prescribed arrangement, halwa is to be served in the first and third week of the month, while upma is to be served in the second, fourth and fifth week. With this, children will also get the option of different tastes along with regular food.
monitoring of distribution system
To ensure the quality of food in schools and its distribution as per the prescribed menu, monitoring arrangements have been made through mother groups, school management committees and task forces. Its objective is to maintain systematic distribution of food and ensure that the benefits of the scheme reach all eligible students.