K'taka mid-day meal scheme: 6 days of eggs a week has led to increased school attendance, says DSEL
Bengaluru: Karnataka government’s initiative to provide eggs six days a week as an additional nutrient in the mid-day meal scheme has led to a significant increase in school attendance, according to the Department of School Education and Literacy (DSEL).
Officials stated that when eggs were previously provided twice a week, student attendance was at 93.5 percent, as reported by The Hindu. However, since the introduction of eggs six days a week, attendance has risen to an impressive 98.97 percent. Furthermore, the number of children eating eggs has increased by about four times compared to the number of students eating bananas — the other additional nutrient being provided in schools.
To combat malnutrition among school children, eggs, bananas, and groundnut chikkis have been distributed as supplementary nutrients along with mid-day meals in government and aided schools for students from Classes 1 to 10. With support from the Azim Premji Foundation for Development (APF), the state started providing eggs six days a week in September 2024. Students who do not consume eggs have been given bananas and chikkis. However, the government recently stopped distributing chikkis due to concerns about their quality.
“It has been observed that children’s attendance in schools has increased as eggs and bananas are being provided six days a week. This is a good development, as not only will malnutrition in children be reduced, but they will also develop academically,” K.V. Trilok Chandra, Commissioner, DPI, was quoted as saying by The Hindu.
In terms of regional consumption, Kolar Educational District recorded the highest percentage of students consuming eggs at 84.16 percent, followed by Kodagu (83.89 percent), Hassan (81.26 percent), and Chikkamagaluru (79.49 percent), added the report.
On the other hand, Chikkodi Educational District had the lowest number of children consuming eggs, at 30.97 percent, followed by Belagavi (41.78 percent) and Bengaluru North (41.19 percent).
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Rajasthan: ACB court sends former IAS Subodh Agarwal to 2-day police remand in JJM scam
Jaipur (PTI): Retired IAS officer Subodh Agarwal, arrested in connection with the alleged Rs 960-crore Jal Jeevan Mission scam, was produced before an ACB court on Monday, which sent him to two days' police remand.
The Anti-Corruption Bureau had sought a three-day remand for further questioning in the matter, but the court granted two days' custody.
The order was passed by the ACB Court-1.
A team from the ACB arrested Agarwal on Thursday in connection with the multi-crore Jal Jeevan Mission corruption case.
He was sent to a three-day police remand on Friday. On completion of the remand period, the ACB produced him in court.
Agarwal was serving as the additional chief secretary of the public health engineering department when the alleged scam took place.
Some firms had allegedly secured tenders by submitting forged completion certificates in connivance with officers. Last month, the ACB arrested nine persons, including senior engineers and retired officials, in connection with the scam. Earlier, the ACB had arrested contractors.
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