On August 18th, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu unveiled the Mukhyamantri Bal Paushtik Aahar Yojana, a nutritional scheme aimed at enhancing the diet of children in government-run schools. The initiative, launched in Hamirpur, is designed to complement the existing midday meal program, benefiting students from nursery to Class 8 across 15,181 schools.
Under this scheme, approximately 5.34 lakh children currently receiving midday meals will also be provided with boiled eggs or fresh fruits once a week. The schools will procure fruits from local markets based on the student’s preferences, ensuring a diverse and nutritious diet. The state government has allocated an additional Rs.12.75 crore for the scheme in the current fiscal year.
Sukhu announced the distribution of tablets to 17,510 primary school teachers, aimed at facilitating the digitization of teaching and administrative processes. These tablets will improve access to digital resources and allow teachers to participate in online training programs, thereby enhancing the overall quality of education. He emphasized his administration’s commitment to raising academic standards through initiatives such as the Rajiv Gandhi Day Boarding Schools and international exposure visits for teachers.