Bhubaneswar: Students of state-run and aided schools in Odisha will be provided eggs in midday meal and nutrient-rich laddoos thrice a week from April 1, coinciding with Utkala Dibasa.
In a letter to the state nodal officer, PM POSHAN Programme, Bhubaneswar, the School & Mass Education Department informed that one additional egg and other protein and iron rich supplements will be provided to both elementary (Class 1-8) and secondary (Class 9-10) students in schools from the upcoming financial yea.
The extra egg , which will be provided on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and other protein supplements will cost the state exchequer Rs 372.80 crore annually.
The laddoos will be distributed among the students on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday during the morning assembly. The cost of a laddoo has been fixed at Rs 3.50. “The laddoos will be prepared from ingredients like groundnut, sesame, millet and jaggery. These ingredients are rich in fibre, iron and healthy fats which can act as good source of energy to all students enrolled from Class l to X in the government and government-aided schools covered under PM POSHAN scheme,” said the official letter.
Last month, the government announced to extended the cooked meals provision to around 8 lakh students studying in Class 9 and 10 from FY 2025-26 and the proposal also got the nod on March 26. “Total financial implication amounting to Rs 570.71 crore annually to be borne from the State Budget under the scheme,” it added.
Besides increasing nutritional levels, the decision is aimed at enhancing enrolment, attendance and retention of students in secondary schools.