The novel scheme to give underprivileged school students a daily glass of milk might take off sooner than expected. Over 60 lakh students across the State are likely to start getting their daily dose of calcium by July 15 according to government sources.
Under the School Milk Scheme, each child up to Class 10 will be given 150 ml of milk daily, the sources said.
There are now clear indications that the milk will be sourced from the nearest milk cooperatives, which will be able to supply it within hours. In areas where supplying fresh milk is not be possible, the government will supply milk powder, Karnataka Milk Federation managing director A.S. Premnath said.
To sustain the project, the government will need between seven and eight lakh litres of milk daily, of which about 4.5 lakh litres will be fresh milk. The remaining 30 to 35 tonnes will be in the powder form.
However, the file for the scheme is waiting for the Finance Department’s nod after which the cost of the project will be computed.
