UT to introduce protein-rich midday meal

More than 60,000 students avail of the midday meal scheme every day in over 100 government schools, but many studies in the past have suggested that a large proportion of students based in the city’s slum areas suffer from malnourishment.

“The menu is being revised for robust bodily and mental growth of the children,” said UT Education Secretary Sarvjit Singh. The soya chunks will have 52 per cent protein content, which is almost double than that of meat. As per the direction of the education department, the soya chunks must be sourced from the standard Agmark-based companies, but not in large numbers, so that the packs are consumed the same day they are opened.

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Sarvij Singh added that the soya chunks would be served twice a week.

The department has also recommended a couple of recipes, possibly one with peas in a tomato-based gravy and another in yellow curd curry so that children don’t get bored of the current menu. The latter includes chapatis and rice served with curry or dal.

Further, the department has asked for the implementation of the new menu within the next fortnight. “Additional cost, if any, will be borne by the department,” said Sarvjit Singh.

In the city, the midday meal is supplied by Shivalik View Hotel in Sector 17, Chandigarh Institute of Hotel Management (CIHM) and Dr Ambedkar Institute of Hotel Management (AIHM), both located in Sector 42.

Kavita Singh, MC of CITCO that runs Shivalik View Hotel, said that the major concern in any change in the budget. “It is a good initiative. If the department is ready to bear any extra cost, we will introduce it after conducting a feasibility study,” she said.

Meanwhile, Bharti Tyagi, Principal, AIHM, said that they have already started adding soya flour to wheat flour to make it more nutritious.T K Razdan, Principal, CIHM, could not be reached for his comments.