Ranchi: There is great news for the students studying in government schools of Jharkhand. Due to the closure of schools due to the corona pandemic, the students deprived of mid-day meals will be given one-time food items for the prescribed duration.
As per the plan Food packets will be provided at the rate of Rs 4.97 per child per day for primary classes and Rs 7.95 per child per day for upper primary classes. In this way, children of primary classes will get food packets worth Rs 1,023.82, and children of upper primary classes will get Rs 1,534.70 in one go.
A total of Rs 398.28 crore is estimated to be spent on this. This material will be given in the form of food packets in lieu of cooking costs for the period from April 1, 2021, to January 31, 2022. The packet will contain pulses, spices, salt, oil etc. Jharkhand Mid Day Meal Authority has started the tender process for providing food packets to 33,41,025 children (for 206 days).
Earlier also an attempt was made to provide food packets as reimbursement for the period from October 1, 2020, to March 31, 2021. The tender process was also started for this, but due to only one agency coming forward, it was decided to cancel the tender and give money for this period to the children in lieu of food packets. The amount was given to the children only for this period. Now efforts are being made to give food packets once again for its further period.