Students of government schools in Uttar Pradesh may soon receive millets-related dishes at least once a week during lunch to improve their nutrition.
The year 2023 has been declared the ‘International Year of Millets’, after a proposal for this was made by the government of India and supported by members of the FAO (Food and Agriculture Organisation) Governing Bodies as well as by the 75th session of the UN General Assembly,
According to Uttar Pradesh’s Director General of School Education, Vijay Kiran Anand, “We will soon have a meeting with Union government officials regarding the introduction of millets in mid-day meals.”
The Mid Day Meal Authority of Uttar Pradesh will be responsible for providing millet-based meals to students in 1.42 lakh schools throughout the state, which are currently in charge of delivering mid-day meals in government and aided schools for classes 1 to 8.
As per the minister of agriculture for Uttar Pradesh, Surya Pratap Shahi, the millets are likely to be a part of the mid-day meal programme. The dish will be served with either moong dal or vegetables.
The Midday Meal Authority must obtain about 62,000 metric tonnes of millet for this. Currently, children are given dishes made of wheat or rice along with vegetables or proteins six days a week.
The UP government has urged the Food Corporation of India (FCI) to provide millets so that they could be served to the students in the mid-day meal programme.
The state education minister has made it clear that if the proposal gets the nod by the Central government and the required quantity is obtained, then millets will be served to the students after the summer vacation.