J&K govt schools to grow organic ‘nutrition gardens’
Arteev Sharma
Tribune News Service
Jammu, January 29
In an innovative idea, the UT administration has decided to establish “School nutrition gardens” in all government-run schools of Jammu and Kashmir to use “fresh organic vegetables grown in such gardens for the preparation of mid-day meals” for children.
The move is also aimed at involving children with nature besides inculcating the knowledge of different kinds of vegetable plants among students.
23,747 govt school
- There are around 23,747 government schools in J&K, including 12,252 in Jammu division and 11,495 in Kashmir
division.
“The vegetables grown in these gardens will be used to prepare mid-day meals which are served to students in schools under the Mid-day Meal Scheme. The idea behind the competition is to promote community participation and children interface with nature,” Dr Arun Manhas, Mission Director, Mid Day Meal (MDM) Scheme, J&K, said.
The Mission Director said, “It will inculcate knowledge among children about nature. In present times, children can’t even differentiate between mango and apple trees. It will develop a habit among children to plant trees as well. Besides, it will also motivate and inspire the cooks-cum-helpers, who prepare the food, by incentivising their recipes”.
“Under the scheme, only organic vegetables will be grown in the ‘school nutrition gardens’ as the school authorities will be asked to avoid the use of any kind of fertilisers,” Dr Manhas said, adding “We have decided to make a formal request from the HRD Ministry to provide some funds (anything between Rs 3,000 to Rs 5,000 per school) to make this project a big success”.
There are around 23,747 government schools in J&K, including 12,252 in Jammu division and 11,495 in Kashmir division.
The Mission Director also said some of the cooks-cum-helpers, who prepared the food in schools, would be provided specialised training at the Food Craft Institute to enhance their skills in cooking. “These people (cooks) are getting a meagre honorarium of Rs 1,000 per month. These skills will also help them to earn their livelihood by cooking food in marriage functions as well,” Dr Manhas said.
