The Uttar Pradesh government is working to reintroduce hot cooked meals at the anganwadi centres which were suspended before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.
As per a press statement issued by the state government yesterday, on November 2, Chief Secretary Durga Shanker Mishra has directed officials that hot cooked food should be prepared and made available to the children by the cooks in the kitchens located near the primary and upper primary schools.
“According to the proposal, the same food will be served to the children at anganwadi centres, which is being served to the children in basic [primary] schools under the [Mid-Day Meal] scheme,” the press statement mentioned. At present the children’s guardians are being provided with dry rations at the anganwadi centres.
It was also directed that the anganwadi centres located within a radius of 200 metres should be linked to the nearest primary school.
The proposal suggests that approximately 65 per cent of Anganwadi centres in the state are located on the premises of primary and upper primary schools. Therefore, the food will be prepared in the kitchens of these schools. Hence, the proposal is to keep a menu similar to the PM Nutrition Scheme.
Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Nirman (PM POSHAN) earlier known as the National Programme of Mid-Day Meal in Schools is one of the foremost rights-based centrally sponsored schemes under the National Food Security Act, 2013 (NFSA). The primary objective of the scheme is to improve the nutritional status of children studying in classes first to eighth in eligible schools.
Uniform Menu for Food at School
The proposal to resume hot cooked meals at the anganwadi centres also includes a plan to provide a uniform menu across all primary schools and anganwadi centres.
“The menu for the week would include roti, seasonal vegetables with added soybean, and fresh seasonal fruit. On Tuesday, students will be served rice with dal and vegetables, Wednesday will include ‘tahari’ with seasonal vegetables and soybeans and on Thursday they will have roti with dal and vegetables,” it mentioned.
“On Friday and Saturday, tahari with seasonal vegetables and soybeans, and dal with rice and vegetables will be served respectively. However, the priority will be given to millets in hot cooked food,” it added.
It is also mentioned that millets will be prioritised in the food menu of the anganwadi centres in the state.
