Mid-day Meals to Become More Nutritious; School Children to Receive Milk Daily Through OMFED and NDDB Collaboration
To make the midday meal more nutritious, the Odisha government has decided to provide 200 ml of milk daily to every schoolchild. This initiative is part of the “Gift Milk Scheme.”
Pilot Project in Rairangpur
The scheme began as a pilot project in 29 schools in Rairangpur Municipality. The Odisha Milk Federation (OMFED) and the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) are collaborating on this project. Odisha’s Fisheries and Animal Resources Development Minister Gokulananda Mallik announced this initiative.
Statewide Midday Meal Coverage
Odisha has around 51,581 primary and upper primary schools. The state government provides midday meals to 41.32 lakh children under the PM Poshan Programme. The current weekly meal schedule includes:
- Monday & Thursday: Rice and Dalma
- Tuesday & Friday: Rice and Soybean Curry
- Wednesday & Saturday: Rice and Egg Curry
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Due to rising food prices, the state government increased the expenditure on midday meals by Rs. 1 on November 14. After 10 days, the central government also raised the expenditure. Now, primary school students receive Rs. 7.64 per meal, while upper primary students get Rs. 10.94 from December 1.
Milk’s Nutritional Benefits
The Odisha Dairy Farmers Association welcomed the government’s decision to provide milk with the midday meal. The association’s president, Ravi Behera, stated that milk would help reduce malnutrition and anemia among women and children.
Economic Impact on Rural Areas
This scheme will also boost rural employment. More people will engage in dairy farming, and OMFED will become a profitable organization, according to Behera.
The “Gift Milk Scheme” is a positive step towards improving child nutrition and supporting rural livelihoods. By ensuring daily milk consumption, the government aims to create healthier children and empower rural dairy farmers.
