Akshaya Patra Foundation, a not-for-profit organisation, launched its first pilot for introducing millet items in the mid-day meal programme to enhance children’s nutritional intake.
The International Crops Research Institute of the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) has collaborated with the Akshaya Patra Foundation for the initiative, which would also strive to encourage small and marginal farmers to grow millets. Children would be given millets in the form of khaja , chikki , laddoos etc, each item a day with the regular meals. Deputy Chief Minister Kadiam Srihari launched the programme at the centralised kitchen at Narsingi in Kokapet and appreciated the Foundation for ensuring hygienic food for children, while also helping in providing subsidised food to about two lakh persons in Hyderabad at GHMC counters and government hospitals.
Mr. Srihari said that he would soon hold a meeting with the National Institute of Nutrition (NIN) and ICRISAT to further fortify nutrients in the mid-day meal programme in Telangana State.
In this context, he lamented that the Central government funds for the scheme was a meagre ₹4.13 for a primary school student and ₹6.18 for a higher class student, which needs to be revised.
The Minister pointed out that the Telangana government was providing eggs to students every day along with fine rice and cereals at its residential schools. Also, children at these schools get chicken, mutton, milk, breakfast and 50 grams of ghee, an unprecedented feat anywhere in the country. This would be taken to the Centre’s notice to plead for review of the programme.
“Millets, apart from keeping the students in good health, will prove beneficial for our farmers by creating new market opportunities for them,” said Satya Gaura Chandra Dasa, Akshay Patra’s TS and A.P. president.
The organisation serves mid-day meals at 1,194 government schools and Anganwadi centres across the four districts of Sangareddy, Medak, Vikarabad and Mahabubnagar, feeding over one lakh beneficiaries every day.
RR ZP Chairperson Sunita Mahender Reddy, ICRISAT DG David Bergvinson, NIN Deputy Director Lakshmaiah and others were present.
