Advertisement
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath inaugurates the ‘Hot Cooked Meal Scheme,’ offering nutritious meals to children aged 3 to 6 years at Anganwadis. The program targets providing 70 grams of food grains per beneficiary per day through hot-cooked meals. Additionally, Adityanath laid the foundation stone for 3,401 Anganwadi centers and unveiled a transit hostel for police personnel. Stressing the significance of inter-departmental coordination, he affirmed that the initiative is anticipated to benefit 80 lakh children.
Emphasizing that nourished and healthy children contribute to a stronger India, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath launched a novel scheme on Friday. The initiative aims to provide nutritious meals to children aged 3 to 6 years at Anganwadis throughout the state.
The Chief Minister inaugurated the ‘Hot Cooked Meal Scheme,’ modeled after Midday Meals, at the composite school in Ayodhya Police Lines. During his visit, he engaged with students in classrooms, inquiring about their education and school uniforms. Subsequently, he personally served food to the children.
The program entails offering 70 grams of food grains per beneficiary per day through hot-cooked meals for children.
In accordance with the guidelines, employees and assistants at Anganwadi centers, along with those at the kitchens of primary and upper primary schools, have been directed to collaborate in preparing and serving meals to children.
Adityanath laid the cornerstone for 3,401 Anganwadi centers across 35 districts, with an estimated cost of ₹403 crore. Furthermore, he inaugurated a transit hostel for police personnel at Ayodhya Reserve Police Lines.
In his speech, the Chief Minister emphasized that the effort to provide diverse hot meals to children, with varying food items on different days, would advance through the collaborative efforts of multiple departments.
Reflecting on the effective containment of encephalitis in eastern Uttar Pradesh, the CM highlighted that inter-departmental coordination played a crucial role. He pointed out that, due to this coordination, the disease, which had claimed 50,000 children’s lives over 40 years, was brought under control within four years. He underscored the necessity of implementing schemes through inter-departmental coordination based on this success.
The Chief Minister mentioned that there were approximately 1.90 lakh Anganwadi centers in the state, catering to over two crore registered beneficiaries. He further stated that the Hot Cooked Meal Scheme would be advantageous for 80 lakh children aged 3 to 6 years.
While addressing the Anganwadi workers and helpers present at the event, Adityanath conveyed, “Children are a form of God. You are fortunate because, like Yashoda in the Dwapara Yuga, who nurtured Krishna in his childhood, you are serving and taking the responsibility of the nourishment and health of hundreds of Kanhas, contributing to the foundation of a strong India. It is your fortune that you have got this opportunity.”
The Chief Minister acknowledged that there had been numerous queries regarding nutrition schemes in the past. Nonetheless, he highlighted substantial advancements made in the last 6-7 years, including a decline in anemia among children and significant progress in addressing cases of underweight children. Additionally, he noted a reduction in the infant mortality rate.
However, he emphasized that there is still scope for further enhancement. He stated, Ensuring the health of children is not solely the responsibility of the Women and Child Development department but also falls under the purview of the Panchayati Raj and Urban Development department.
In the course of the program, he viewed a brief film about the Hot Cooked Meal scheme and distributed ‘Poshan bhi Padhayi bhi’ kits to Anganwadi workers and helpers. Furthermore, the Chief Minister handed out Shree Anna nutrition plates to the children attending the Anganwadi centers.
To support the preparation of hot-cooked food under the new initiative, an extra incentive of 0.50 rupees per child per working day will be provided to the helpers under the PM POSHAN scheme by the Department of Child Development Services and Nutrition, in addition to the existing midday meals.
The timely delivery of meals to Anganwadi centers, situated within a 200-meter radius of primary and upper primary schools, and the distribution of hot, fresh meals to children will be the responsibility of the respective Anganwadi helpers.
The guidelines on this matter have been issued by Vijay Kiran Anand, the Director of Midday Meal and the Director-General of School Education, to all basic education officers. According to the instructions, the Department of Child Development Services and Nutrition will supply food grains and ingredients, including pulses, vegetables, oil, spices, etc., needed for preparing food under the new initiative.
Particular attention to hygiene
Anganwadi helpers will ensure the transportation of food from the kitchens of primary schools to Anganwadi centers and its service to children. They will also be responsible for maintaining cleanliness, extending to Anganwadi centers within a 200-meter radius of primary and upper primary schools. The helpers will oversee the cleanliness of utensils used in food preparation and ensure that all children wash their hands before and after meals.
