Guwahati: In a significant step towards improving the nutritional well-being of school children, the Assam government has unveiled an upgraded midday meal menu under the Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Nirman (PM POSHAN) scheme.
The revised menu aims to provide students with a balanced and nutritious diet to support their physical and cognitive development.
The Executive Director of Samagra Shiksha Assam (SSA) has issued a directive to officials, urging the immediate implementation of the new meal plan. The enhanced menu features 12 carefully crafted recipes, ensuring a variety of healthy meals each week.
The program prioritizes a nutritious diet, providing students with adequate carbohydrates, proteins, and essential vitamins.
This initiative is seen as a crucial step in addressing the nutritional needs of young learners, promoting improved academic performance and overall health.
The National Programme of Nutritional Support to Primary Education (NP-NSPE), commonly known as the Mid-Day Meal Scheme, was launched as a Central Government scheme on August 15, 1995.
Initially implemented in 2,408 blocks across India, the program aimed to improve enrollment, retention, attendance, and nutritional levels among school children.
Since April 2008, the scheme has been expanded to cover all children studying in government, local bodies, and government-aided primary and upper primary schools and centers supported under the Samagra Shiksha program nationwide.
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The Mid-Day Meal Scheme was introduced in Assam during the 2004-05 financial year.
In September 2021, the scheme’s name was changed to Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Nirman (PM-POSHAN). Since April 2022, children in preparatory classes (the year before Grade 1) in primary schools have been included in the PM-POSHAN program.
