Ranchi: Children of about 5000 government schools in the state will be served fruits and vegetables grown in the school’s kitchen garden in their mid-day meal plates. Kitchen gardens will be developed in selected schools of the state under MNREGA. Five thousand rupees will be spent per school for this. Its preparation has been started by the department. K Ravi Kumar, Secretary, Department of School Education and Literacy, has sent a letter in
this regard to the Deputy Commissioners of all the districts.
School Education and Literacy Department Secretary K Ravi Kumar has said in a letter sent to the Deputy Commissioners that children from classes 1 to 8 are given mid-day meals. Kitchen gardens should be developed in schools so that children get essential nutrients through fruits and vegetables. From where the fruits and vegetables obtained should be used in the mid-day meal. When this is done then only the vision of a malnutrition-free Jharkhand can be fulfilled.
He has mentioned in his letter that the formation of a kitchen garden will not only remove the shortage of fruits and vegetables but will also increase the attachment of children towards farming and gardening. Only children can be motivated to develop this kitchen garden. This will increase their sense of connection with nature.
It is not that kitchen gardens will be developed in all government schools of the state but Schools will be selected for this. Similarly, kitchen gardens will be developed through MNREGA only in schools where there is a boundary, drinking water facility and land is available.
For this, training, technical cooperation, and proposal of seeds and organic fertilizers will also be made available by the Krishi Vigyan Kendra located in the district. District Nutrition Committee and Block Nutrition Committee will be formed to develop kitchen gardens in schools.
The Deputy Commissioner will be the chairman of the District Nutrition Committee. In-charge of Krishi Vigyan Kendra, a representative of District Rural Development Agency, a representative of the Agriculture Horticulture Department, Child Development Project Officer, ADPO Assistant Engineer will be its members and District Education Superintendent will be its coordinator. Talking at the block level, the Block Development Officer will be the chairman of the committee.
Apart from this, Block Panchayat Supervisor, Block Agriculture Officer, Child Development Project Officer, Junior Engineer and Block Program Officer will be members. BEEO will be the coordinator. Support will be given in the maintenance of plants by the eco club formed in the schools. In the garden vegetables and fruits like Papaya, banana, Seepage, Jackfruit, ladyfinger, Sweet gourd, Bottle gourd, french beans, Tomato, Coriander, Fenugreek, spinach, Carrot, Beetroot, Brinjal etc will be grown.
According to the Department of School Education and Literacy in Ranchi in 297 schools, 121 in Khunti, 69 in Lohardaga, 206 in Gumla, 134 in Simdega, 226 in East Singhbhum, 179 in Seraikela Kharsawan, 284 in West Singhbhum, 349 in Palamu, Latehar 145, 99 in Garhwa, 205 in Hazaribagh, 82 in Ramgarh, 92 in Koderma, 211 in Chatra, 436 in Giridih, 236 in Dhanbad, 211 in Bokaro, 320 in Dumka, 142 in Jamtara, 192 in Sahibganj, 139 in Pakur, 214 kitchen gardens will be made in Godda and 271 in Deoghar.