Students of govt, govt-aided schools in Karnataka to get eggs six days a week
Bengaluru (PTI): Students of government schools in Karnataka will now be served eggs six days a week as a part of the midday meal scheme. The move comes after Azim Premji Foundation on Saturday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Government of Karnataka to support the nutritional enrichment of the state government's mid-day meal programme in government and government-aided schools for three years. Currently, the state government's mid-day meal programme provides eggs on two days of the week to the students.
"The Foundation's support will enable the provision of eggs on all six days of the school week, substantially enhancing the nutrition for students. An alternative high nutrition supplement will be provided for those students who do not consume eggs because of cultural preferences, the foundation said in a statement. Speaking after inaugurated the programme, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah lauded the Azim Premji Foundation for its "historic" initiative to provide nutritious meals to school children and stressed that quality food is important for mental health and good education.
According to him, MoU was signed between primary and secondary education department with the Azim Premji Foundation. As per the MoU, the foundation has agreed to supply eggs for four days in a week. One egg to each student -- both to government students and also to government aided schools. Healthy food should be given to all the students whether it is to government schools or aided schools, he said.
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"I have seen children coming to school without breakfast and staying until noon without lunch. This prompted us to provide food and eggs twice a week. Now, the Azim Premji Foundation has joined hands with the government to provide eggs and nutritious food to children for four additional days a week," he said. He also stressed on the importance of scientific and intellectual development of students, encouraging them to become socially responsible individuals.
"Our goal is to create opportunities for quality education for poor children. For this reason, apart from providing uniforms, shoes, and socks, and we are opening more residential schools," he added.
According to the foundation, eggs will be added to the mid-day meal for the 55 lakh students in these schools -- from Grade 1 to 10 -- to provide this nutritional enrichment. As is well-known, eggs are packed with a wide range of essential nutritional content from proteins to minerals. This initiative will help improve the nutritional status of school students and contribute to their physical and cognitive development.
"The Foundation works extensively across the country to help improve the quality and equity of the public (government) education system. The Foundation will work closely with the Commissioner of School Education and Literacy (CSE) to implement mechanisms to ensure high-quality eggs are delivered to each child in the schools covered by the program," the statement added.
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15 IAS officers transferred in Haryana
Chandigarh (PTI): The Haryana government transferred 15 IAS officers with immediate effect on Wednesday.
Among those who have been transferred are Vineet Garg, Chairman, Haryana State Pollution Control Board. He has been posted as the additional chief secretary to the government's printing and stationery department, relieving Raja Shekhar Vundru of the charge, a government order said.
Ajay Kumar, Deputy Commissioner, Gurugram, has been transferred and posted as the deputy principal secretary-II to the chief minister against a newly-created post.
Pankaj Agarwal, Principal Secretary, Irrigation and Water Resources Department, has been posted as the principal secretary in the architecture department, relieving Apporva Kumar Singh of the charge.
Saket Kumar, Additional Principal Secretary to Chief Minister, Commissioner and Secretary, Development and Panchayats Department, has been transferred and posted as the commissioner and secretary in the archives department, relieving Shekhar Vidyarthi of the charge.
Mani Ram Sharma, Registrar, Cooperative Societies, has been posted as the secretary in the health department, relieving Rippudaman Singh Dhillon of the charge.
