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Raje reviews progress of mid-day meal scheme

Special Correspondent

"Public-private partnership would facilitate an effective and broad-based execution"

JAIPUR: Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje has underlined the need for involving self-help groups, donors, philanthropists, charitable institutions, religious organisations and industrial houses in implementation of the midday meals scheme to extend its benefit to school children in all districts in the State.

Ms. Raje, reviewing the progress of the scheme at a high-level meeting here over the weekend, said the public-private partnership would facilitate an effective and broad-based execution of the scheme and ensure good quality of food supplied to children in schools.

Ms. Raje, while noting that nearly 76-lakh children across the State were being provided with midday meals at an expenditure of Rs. 5.87 crores, expressed the hope that the scheme would soon be extended to all districts. She asked the officials concerned to examine the scope for introducing the scheme in all girls' schools up to the middle level.

"In addition to an effective monitoring of the scheme, attempts should be made to associate the mothers of students with the women's self-help groups to maintain a good quality of food,'' said Ms. Raje.

The Chief Minister was informed at the meeting that the "Akshay Kaleva'' scheme would be launched in four more towns in the State by July 30.

The Director of Midday Meals, Sudhansh Pant, pointed out that nearly 19,000 kitchens-cum-storehouses had been constructed across the State so far and 17,000 more kitchens would be built shortly. The progress of schemes relating to social security and development of skills was also reviewed in the meeting.

Ms. Raje felt that the sectors such as textiles, automobile, construction and industrial training had an immense employment potential and said attempts should be made to get their benefits for common men. She said the actions such as cluster development and promotion of khadi and handicrafts could help improve the standard of living of artisans. Among others, Health Minister Digambar Singh, Panchayati Raj Minister Kalulal Gujjar, Industries Minister Narpat Singh Rajvi and Women and Child Development Minister Kanakmal Katara attended the meeting.

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Raje reviews progress of mid-day meal scheme

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