Minister for Primary and Secondary Education Madhu Bangarappa on Friday said egg, banana, or groundnut chikki will be distributed to the children of both the government and aided schools across the State twice a week with the purpose of improving nutrition among the children.
Speaking after inaugurating the State-level programme of providing eggs, bananas, or chikkis to the children of class 1 to 10 under the midday meal scheme, at the government high school at Hosahalli in Mandya, the Minister said nearly 60 lakh children from the government and aided schools will be availing the benefit under the midday meal scheme. Around 1.20 crore eggs will be provided to schools twice a week.
Mr. Bangarappa said the initiative of providing eggs, bananas, or chikkis was first introduced along with the midday meals for the students of classes 1 to 8. However, it was felt that the children of class 9 should also get the benefit as the school authorities said it was difficult for them to ignore class 9 children while serving eggs to class 8 children since they would have lunch together in the school. “Even the teachers expressed the same view. When this was brought to the notice of the Chief Minister, he asked to extend the scheme to all the students of class 1 to 10, facilitating distribution of egg, banana or chikki twice a week,” the Minister informed.
