In order to motivate and recognize the culinary skills of cook-cum-helpers, a cooking competition was held under Mid Day Meal Scheme at Government High School, Gandhi Nagar Jammu today.While addressing the gathering, Mission Director-MDM, Dr. Arun Manhas revealed that the scheme mainly focuses on elimination of classroom hunger by providing nutritious food to children enrolled in Class 1st to 8th in all government schools. The enrolment in government schools has also exhibited significant increase with this scheme as the tendency to stay in schools is developed.Dr. Manhas said that the district level winners of cooking competitions will be provided training at Food Craft Institute, Nagrota.Director School Education Jammu Anuradha Gupta also attended the event and congratulated the team for such an innovative practice under Mid Day Meal Scheme.
Later, awards were presented to the winners and consolation prizes for others. Ajay Kumar of PS Mohalla Doom (Zone Akhnoor), Kamla Devi of MS City R.S Pura (Zone R.S Pura) & Bachno Devi of MS Lower Thathar (Zone Bhalwal) were adjudged as Ist, 2nd and 3rd respectively.The event was organized to explore new recipes for government school children having appealing delicacies and nutritional values. 14 cooks selected at zonal level i.e. one from each zone of Jammu district participated in the competition who cooked different meals.Among others who were present during the event were Altaf Zargar, Consultant MDM, Kulbir Singh, CEO Jammu, Sajad Khan-State Coordinator MDM, Jasbir Singh-Support Staff MDM and various heads of institutions.