Government will now provide mid-day meal to upper primary students too

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) today gave its approval for extending mid-day meal scheme to children of the upper primary class.

New Delhi, Sep 13 : The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) today gave its approval for extending mid-day meal scheme to children of the upper primary class.

The scheme will be implemented in government, government aided schools and Education Guarantee Scheme (EGS) and Alternative and Innovative Education (AIE) centres.

During 2007-08, the scheme will be extended to 3479 Educationally Backward Blocks and during 2008-09, it will be extended to all areas across the country, a release issued by the Government stated.

The government has also fixed the calorific value of the mid day meal for upper primary at 700 calories and 20 grams of protein

"The rationale for extension of the scheme to the upper primary stage of education is derived from the importance of the age group 11-14 in terms of children's physical and mental development," said a government release.

Children in this age group represent a vital segment of our population - their health, nutritional status and educational attainments will determine the quality of our country in the years to come, it added.

ANI