School students to get milk in midday meal: Min
Bhubaneswar: Govt will include milk in the midday meal (MDM) programme in state-run schools, fisheries and animal resources development minister Gokulananda Mallik announced on Tuesday.
Under the new initiative, each student will receive 200 millilitres of milk daily, specially fortified with essential vitamins A and D, complementing their regular school meals. The addition aims to improve student nutrition and overall health outcomes.
The announcement came a day after President Droupadi Murmu inaugurated a pilot project called ‘Gift Milk’ in Rairangpur of Mayurbhanj district on Monday. The project targets 1,184 students across 29 schools in the area, serving as a testing ground for the broader implementation.
Minister Mallik expressed confidence in the programme’s success and announced plans for its state-wide expansion. “Under the ‘Gift Milk’ initiative launched on Monday, more than 1,000 students across 29 schools will be provided with 200 ml of milk,” he said.
Mallik said milk provided under the initiative is fortified with vitamins A and D. “Govt is considering extending the nutritional benefit to students across all state-run schools,” the minister added.
Midday meal programme in Odisha serves around 45 lakh students across 50,485 primary and upper primary schools. The existing menu follows a structured weekly pattern for students.
On Mondays and Thursdays, students are served rice with ‘dalma’ (a lentil-based dish). On Tuesdays and Fridays, students get rice with soya chunks, while on Wednesdays and Saturdays, they get rice with egg curry.
Officials said the addition of milk to midday meals represents a strategic move to address nutritional deficiencies and enhance the overall dietary quality. The initiative aligns with the goal of improving child nutrition and educational outcomes.
Health experts said the fortification of milk with vitamins A and D specifically targets common nutritional deficiencies observed in school-going children, making it an important intervention for student health and development.
“Milk rich in vitamins A and D can help strengthen bones. It is also useful for skin and heart health, especially among children. At a young age, consumption of milk rich in these vitamins is essential,” dietary expert Radhika Agrawal said.
Under the new initiative, each student will receive 200 millilitres of milk daily, specially fortified with essential vitamins A and D, complementing their regular school meals. The addition aims to improve student nutrition and overall health outcomes.
The announcement came a day after President Droupadi Murmu inaugurated a pilot project called ‘Gift Milk’ in Rairangpur of Mayurbhanj district on Monday. The project targets 1,184 students across 29 schools in the area, serving as a testing ground for the broader implementation.
Minister Mallik expressed confidence in the programme’s success and announced plans for its state-wide expansion. “Under the ‘Gift Milk’ initiative launched on Monday, more than 1,000 students across 29 schools will be provided with 200 ml of milk,” he said.
Mallik said milk provided under the initiative is fortified with vitamins A and D. “Govt is considering extending the nutritional benefit to students across all state-run schools,” the minister added.
Midday meal programme in Odisha serves around 45 lakh students across 50,485 primary and upper primary schools. The existing menu follows a structured weekly pattern for students.
On Mondays and Thursdays, students are served rice with ‘dalma’ (a lentil-based dish). On Tuesdays and Fridays, students get rice with soya chunks, while on Wednesdays and Saturdays, they get rice with egg curry.
Officials said the addition of milk to midday meals represents a strategic move to address nutritional deficiencies and enhance the overall dietary quality. The initiative aligns with the goal of improving child nutrition and educational outcomes.
Health experts said the fortification of milk with vitamins A and D specifically targets common nutritional deficiencies observed in school-going children, making it an important intervention for student health and development.
“Milk rich in vitamins A and D can help strengthen bones. It is also useful for skin and heart health, especially among children. At a young age, consumption of milk rich in these vitamins is essential,” dietary expert Radhika Agrawal said.
