Children to grow vegetables in schools for meals

Karam Prakash

Tribune News Service

Patiala, August 9

Government schools in the state are all set to make space for kitchen gardens. The Education Department has taken a decision in this regard after a meeting with the Ministry of Human Resource and Development on Wednesday.

Vegetables grown in kitchen gardens by children in government schools will be used for cooking food under the mid-day meal scheme in the state. The Mid Day Meal Society, Punjab, Department of School Education, has asked all government schools to start the process of building kitchen gardens.

In a letter, the Director, Education Department, has asked all government schools to make use of vacant space available on the school premises to grow vegetables and fruits.

Around 300 government schools have already built kitchen gardens, informed officials.

To make this initiative a success, the Education Department will rope in Horticulture and Agriculture Department.

Director, Public Instructions (Elementary), Inderjeet Singh said, “It is a great initiative by the Education Department. The initiative will not only reduce the cost of the mid-day meal, but it will inculcate a dignity of labour among students.”

The idea is not to minimise the cost of the meals but to develop a healthy ambience in schools, said a senior official of the Education Department.