Five lakh students in government and aided schools in Mysuru and Raichur districts will be served cardamom and chocolate-flavoured milk from November 1 as part of a pilot project under the Ksheera Bhagya programme.
Since 2013, students have been getting 150 ml of milk. But there have been many complains on the lack of taste and watery composition. In response, the Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF) last year conducted pilot tests in several schools in Bengaluru by supplying milk flavoured with chocolate, rose, badam and cardamom.
“A majority of the students liked the chocolate and cardamom flavour. So we have decided to distribute these flavours on a pilot basis to students in Mysuru and Raichur,” a KMF official said. For every student, 18 gm of milk powder will be converted into a 150-ml portion.
Minister of Primary and Secondary Education Tanveer Sait said that based on feedback for the pilot project, it would be extended to other parts of the State.
An official in the Department of Public Instruction said although they had given milk in flexi packets during the trial run, it was decided to supply flavoured milk powder as disposing the packets posed a problem.
The scheme has been tweaked in Mysuru and Raichur for now, with an eye on elections. While Mysuru is Chief Minister’s home turf, Mr. Sait is the district in charge Minister of Raichur.
V. Sumangala, director of the midday meal programme, said schools were until now being given full-cream milk powder, which was mixed with hot water and sugar and served to students. In Bengaluru, students are given badam flavoured milk.
Milk was initially given to students three times a week, which was extended to five times a week in July this year.
