VADODARA: A primary school in Wayadapur village in Dabhoi taluka has 100 per cent attendance throughout the academic calendar. So, what's the magic in this quaint little school that pulls the tiny tots every single day, rain or shine? The pure joy of eating fresh nutritious organic food grown in the school campus as their mid-day meal!
Thanks to principals like Narendra Chauhan, that the government's ambitious scheme to lure kids back to school, have been fortified with extra nourishment. Fifty-three-year-old Chauhan of Wayadpur Primary School, who ensures that the mid-day meal for his students has turned it into a nutritionally wholesome affair spanning 17 long years.
He has been growing all varieties of vegetables on the school premises. "Many of the students come from very poor backgrounds. Their families cannot afford to give them proper meals every day. For a growing up child, nutritious food is very important as it improves the student's learning abilities and also increases physical strength," Chauhan said, talking to TOI.
"So, 17 years ago, I decided to grow my own vegetables on our school's land. Initially, I grew a few veggies but soon the villagers began helping me after they realized the benefits of quality food," he said.
"Some of the enthusiastic villagers even offered their tractors to help till the land. And soon, I covered nearly one bigha land under my kitchen garden project," Chauhan added.
From brinjal, tomatoes, cabbage, spinach to bottle gourds, fenugreek, cauliflower and beetroot, nearly 14 varieties of healthy veggies are grown in the garden where even children chip in to help principal Chauhan. As soon as the first session of the school gets over, the students are offered meals comprising vegetables, rice and methi theplas.
Over 1,000 students till date have got nutrition at this school, besides education. Chauhan has grown over 8,000kg veggies in his kitchen garden.
Jia Patel, a Class IX student, recalls said, "I still remember how we used to wake up early and run off to school. All of us used to be excited about the new dish we would get to eat every day. Chauhan sir ensured we ate quality food that also helped in our mental growth along with physical well being."
Thanks to principals like Narendra Chauhan, that the government's ambitious scheme to lure kids back to school, have been fortified with extra nourishment. Fifty-three-year-old Chauhan of Wayadpur Primary School, who ensures that the mid-day meal for his students has turned it into a nutritionally wholesome affair spanning 17 long years.
He has been growing all varieties of vegetables on the school premises. "Many of the students come from very poor backgrounds. Their families cannot afford to give them proper meals every day. For a growing up child, nutritious food is very important as it improves the student's learning abilities and also increases physical strength," Chauhan said, talking to TOI.
"So, 17 years ago, I decided to grow my own vegetables on our school's land. Initially, I grew a few veggies but soon the villagers began helping me after they realized the benefits of quality food," he said.
"Some of the enthusiastic villagers even offered their tractors to help till the land. And soon, I covered nearly one bigha land under my kitchen garden project," Chauhan added.
From brinjal, tomatoes, cabbage, spinach to bottle gourds, fenugreek, cauliflower and beetroot, nearly 14 varieties of healthy veggies are grown in the garden where even children chip in to help principal Chauhan. As soon as the first session of the school gets over, the students are offered meals comprising vegetables, rice and methi theplas.
Over 1,000 students till date have got nutrition at this school, besides education. Chauhan has grown over 8,000kg veggies in his kitchen garden.
Jia Patel, a Class IX student, recalls said, "I still remember how we used to wake up early and run off to school. All of us used to be excited about the new dish we would get to eat every day. Chauhan sir ensured we ate quality food that also helped in our mental growth along with physical well being."
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