Bihar to Establish Nutrition Gardens in Government Schools to Combat Malnutrition

A nutrition garden will be established in the school premises with the aim of protecting the students studying in government schools of the state from malnutrition and providing them nutritious food. This garden will be established through the MNREGA scheme under the Rural Development Department.

Giving information in this regard, Commissioner MNREGA Mrs. Abhilasha Kumari Sharma said that the nutrition garden is to be established with the convergence and coordination of the Rural Development Department and the Education Department. In this garden, plants of Amla, Drumstick, Lemon, Guava, Jamun, Pomegranate, Litchi, Custard Apple, as well as other fruits and vegetables will be planted, which will ensure nutritious mid-day meals to the students.

Well-known non-governmental organization 'UNICEF' will provide technical support in this work. In the initial phase, there is a plan to establish nutrition gardens in 2665 schools equipped with boundary walls and hand pump facilities in 533 blocks of the state. Going forward, at least one nutrition garden will be established in all the Gram Panchayats of the state.

In this connection, last month, Additional Chief Secretary of the Education Department of the capital Patna S. A state level orientation workshop was organized under the chairmanship of Siddharth, in which Commissioner MNREGA along with other officials and experts from 'UNICEF' had a detailed discussion on this subject.

Along with environmental protection, employment opportunities will also be created at the local level through Poshan Vatika. Under the policies of MNREGA, local villagers will be selected as Vanposhak. The selected Vanposhak will take care of the plants planted in the Poshan Vatika and will irrigate them. Vanposhak will be able to provide their services for the next 5 years.