Odisha To Include Class IX, X Students Under Midday Meal Scheme

Bhubaneswar: Class IX and X students in Odisha will be included under the PM Poshan (midday meal) scheme, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi informed on Tuesday.

He made the announcement while attending an event to celebrate the centenary foundation day of the Ranihat High School in Cuttack.

Cooked meals is currently being provided to every child in the age group of six to fourteen years studying in Classes I to VIII who enrols and attends schools under this centrally-sponsored scheme launched in 1995.

The CM also mentioned about Sahid Madho Singh Hata Kharcha Yojana and said that efforts will be made to stop school dropouts.

Emphasising on his government’s commitment to strengthen the school education system, the CM said that Rs 4-5 crore will be spent on establishing Godabarish Mishra Adarsh Prathamik Vidyalaya across the state.

Majhi slammed the previous BJD Government for engaging in whitewashing schools under the 5T transformation programme instead of focusing on primary education.

Last month, the state government had enhanced honorarium for cooks and helpers working under the midday meal scheme and doubled the transportation cost of the ration supplied to Anganwadi centres under the supplementary nutrition programme.