Ensure more nutritious content in mid day meals: D.P.Reddy

Chandigarh, February 9, 2023:  Emphasizing more nutritious content in the mid day meals being provided to the children in the schools across the State, the Chairman, Punjab State Food Commission D.P. Reddy said that the cooks deployed for cooking the meals must ensure cleanliness.

Chairing a meeting with the School Education Department here at MGSIPA regarding Mid Day meals in the State, the Chairman said that health checkups of the children at regular intervals are also the need of the hour besides taking steps to ensure the making of health profile of the children soas to have proper assessment about their well being.

The Chairman also exhorted the officers of the department to arrange funds under the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) to make sure that the ROs are installed in all the schools in the coming 6 months across the State to provide clean drinking water to the students. Besides, Mr. Reddy also said that the short film made by the commission on the mid day meals should be uploaded on the EDUSAT platform of the department. Depending upon the resources, the exhaust fans should be provided to get rid of smoke thus protecting both the children as well as the cooks, said Mr. Reddy underscoring the importance of learning from the best practices adopted by the other states in this regard.

Stressing the significance of social media in spreading awareness about the commission's activities, the Chairman batted for the Education Department to follow the social media handles of the commission so as to ensure a wider reach for various initiatives of the commission. The notice boards and complaint boxes must be installed at all the places to generate more awareness among the people apart from enabling them to offer suggestions.

The Chairman& Members shared their experience of field visits & gave some important suggestions. It was assured by the School Education Department authorities that the same will be kept in view & will be taken care of properly.

Among others present on the occasion included A.K. Sharma, IRS (Retd.), Preety Chawla, Indra Gupta, Vijay Dutt, Chetan Prakash Dhaliwal, Members and officers of the Punjab State Food Commission, Director General School Education Vinay Bublani and officers of the School Education Department.