KOCHI: Even as the government’s plan to extend the noon meal scheme from Class VIII to Class X is yet to materialise, the nutritional food schemes introduced by MLAs in three constituencies in the district are a solace to students above Class VIII. While S Sarma’s ‘Ammathan Bakshanam’ caters even to Plus-Two students in government and aided schools in Vypeen constituency, V D Satheesan’s food scheme is lapped by students up to Std X and Works Minister Ebrahim Kunju’s ‘Akshaya’ scheme lures students up to Plus-Two in all the schools in Kalamassery.Students have something to look forward to during lunch time rather than the boring gruel or rice and pulses which is served every day as per the government noon meal scheme. The pulses are cooked in different ways with vegetables and additional dishes are served. “A lot of students are from socially and economically backward families and tend to keep off school. But ever since we started serving a variety of dishes, tasty and nutritional food every day, the response from the students are good. The number of absentees and dropouts are less,” said V D Satheesan, MLA.The PTA and headmasters in the respective schools are conducting the scheme well. I am only a facilitator. The funds are deposited in the joint account of the District Collector and Deputy Director of Education for the purpose, he said. In Paravur, 17,000 students in 75 schools are benefited by the scheme. “We’re planning to serve breakfast too,” he said. In Vypeen, mothers play a major role in the scheme. Depending on the strength of the students a proportionate number of mothers lend a hand in cooking according to the taste of the students and in serving food. Plenty of vegetables and buttermilk are included in the menu, said Naison from S Sarma’s office. The mothers parent-teacher association (PTA) is also involved. Around 25,000 students in 71 schools enjoy the scheme. “Two mothers join the cooks each day and prepare food according to their menu and serve them to the children for out strength is low,” said Jean Sebastian, headmaster, St Sebastian UP School, Ponjikkara.In Kalamassery, the ‘Akshaya’ caters to 11372 students from 47 schools in Kalamassery and to students of two special schools, said Asraff Mooppan from the Minister’s office. A nutritional diet with many dishes are served to the students up to Plus-Two in Kalamassery Assembly constituency. Fish and chicken are served once in a while. At times the Minister also joins the students for lunch, he said. The Minister is also planning to include breakfast in the programme.
Comments
0 comment