69,000 students served midday meals in Dakshina Kannada

Mangaluru: School children were served with hot and fresh meals on Thursday as midday meal programme resumed after a gap of 18 months in Dakshina Kannada. Some schools also prepared sweet dishes to mark the resumption of the programme.
Usha M, executive officer, Akshara Dasoha, Dakshina Kannada, told TOI that as many as 69,000 students were served with midday meals across the district on Thursday. Since the supply of groceries is delayed, schools have been asked to purchase them locally till the department supplies it to them.
The response to midday meals was better and all Covid-19 SOPs were followed. Shambhu Shankar, coordinator, Block Resource Centre, Belthangady taluk said that all SOPs were strictly followed during midday meals to avoid crowding. “Some schools also prepared extra dishes such as Mysuru Pak, payasam and laddoos to mark the beginning of the midday meal programme after 18 months,” said Shambhu.