The Directorate General of School Education and Literacy (DSEL) recently launched its first campaign on setting up School Nutrition (Kitchen) Gardens (SNG) by conducting Bagless Day on April 29 with the theme “Kitchen Gardening and Plantation”. It started.
The initiative was aimed at ensuring 100 per cent presence of SNG in schools serving PM POSHAN meals, earlier known as Mid-Day Meal Scheme, in the state.
The SNG aims to have a positive impact on the supplementation of meals provided under the scheme by improving the nutritional status of students and also encouraging healthy, sustainable and considerate eating habits. The aim is to educate students who are constantly growing and reach their peak.
Additionally, gardening practices teach students teamwork and also make them aware of the prospects of gardening.
One month prior to this day’s observation, all schools were given instructions to prepare in terms of identifying space and resources. If space was not available, as is the case in many urban schools, pots and planters were encouraged.
In various districts, Horticulture Department and Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) have come forward to provide seeds and saplings. In many other places, we saw community participation, such as parents working together to build fences for their vegetable gardens.
On the day of the inspection, Prime Minister Posyan’s entire team went to another school. This day was the day he established his SNG of over 3,000 schools. In 2023, his SNG was present in about 9% of schools, but that number has now increased to 40% and continues to increase every day.
The Ministry would like to thank all stakeholders who are committed to continuing efforts to achieve 100 percent penetration of SNG in schools and who participated and played a key role in achieving the significant increase in SNG. I expressed my intention.
