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Meal scheme guidelines revised

Anita Joshua

NEW DELHI: The Union Human Resource Development Ministry has revised the guidelines of the Mid-Day Meal Scheme to increase calorie and protein content, and introduce micronutrients in food served under the largest school meal programme in the world.

As per the new guidelines for the National Programme of Nutritional Support to Primary Education — issued in September — the calorie content in food served in schools will have to be 450; an increase of 150 over the norm set in 2004. And, protein content has been fixed at 12 gm from eight-to-12.

While micronutrients have not been specified till date in the programme — which is now 11 years old — the revised norms specify that iron, folic acid, Vitamin-A and other micronutrients shall be provided in adequate quantity to all children in these schools from Classes I to V. Children shall be given a six-monthly dose for de-worming and Vitamin-A supplementation, a weekly iron, zinc and folic acid supplement, and other supplements to meet common deficiencies. Also, only iodised/double fortified (iron and iodine) salt can be used for cooking.

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