Karnataka: Eggs or bananas for children of seven districts

BENGALURU: Students of class 1-8 in seven districts will get eggs or bananas as part of midday meals from December 1.
TOI had reported in September that the project approval board of the education ministry’s midday meal division had suggested supplementary nutrition items in aspirational districts and places where high levels of malnutrition and anemia were reported.
Around 14.4 lakh children are expected to benefit from the scheme. They include kids in Bidar, Ballari, Kalaburgi, Koppal, Vijayapura, Raichur and Yadgir districts. A sum of Rs 39.8 crore has been released for the scheme and 60% of the expenditure will be given by the Centre.
Students who do not want eggs will get bananas. The scheme will be on alternate days for four months.
Officials said the objective is to eradicate malnutrition. For instance, 1.5 lakh children of Yadgir which has a 74% malnutrition rate will benefit. tnn