Govt to give rice, potato to students entitled to get mid-day meals

Kolkata: The state government will give rice and potato to the students entitled to get mid-day meal across the state, said state Education minister Partha Chatterjee on Friday.

The decision has been taken as the schools have been closed as a part of the precautionary measures to prevent spread of Coronavirus till April 15. As a result, the students cannot get mid-day meals.

Chatterjee said he had spoken to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Chief Secretary Rajiva Sinha over the matter. The students will be given 2 kg rice and 2 kg potato as mid-day meal for one month.

The department has instructed all of its officials and employees to implement the decision. The district magistrates have also been instructed to ensure smooth distribution of rice and potato.

Chatterjee said as the state government is not allowing gathering as a preventive measure, only 10 guardians and parents of the students will be allowed to collect rice and potato from the schools. The district administration will fix the timings for collection of rice and potato.

There are 73,000 primary schools where the students get mid-day meal every

day. Another 40,000 schools offer mid-day meals to their students studying in Classes V to XII.

Chatterjee said the cooks and data entry operators who are associated with the distribution of mid-day meal, will be brought under Swasthya Sathi scheme.