After all taluks in Mysuru district were declared drought-hit, the Education Department is providing midday meals to over 1,08,000 children studying in classes 1 to 8 in government and aided-schools across the district.
This began last Monday and will continue till May 28, the last day of summer vacation.
Schools in urban areas like Mysuru city were not included in the programme as most of the parents in these areas were reluctant to send their children to schools.
D. Uday Kumar, Education Officer in charge of the midday meal programme in the district, told The Hindu on Sunday that ₹2 crore had already been released to the schools for this purpose.
Teachers have been posted to supervise the distribution of meals to children and they would be given leave encashment, Mr. Uday Kumar said.
Over 2,536 midday meal workers have been assigned for this task and they have been given honorarium, he said.
Students were made to play indoor games and they are given moral education till the lunch was prepared every day, Mr. Uday Kumar said. The Education Department has also chalked out plans for a summer camp for children of government schools under the banner ‘Swalpa Kalike- Swalpa Moju’.
During the camp, children would be taught about health and sanitation and other environmental issues, he said adding that children would also be made to play different games in the schools. Children would be enlightened about maintaining their surroundings clean and tidy and they would be sensitised about judicious use of water.
