An amount of Rs. 14.47 crore has been released as cooking cost Food Security Allowance for one month to 8.29 lakh eligible children who were provided dry ration under Mid Day Meal (MDM) Scheme some time back.This was informed during a meeting convened by Advisor to LG, KK Sharma here today.Principal Secretary, School Education, Dr Asgar Samoon, Mission Director MDM, Dr Arun Manhas and other senior officers participated in the meeting through video.Pertinently, the 8.29 lakh eligible children were provided dry rations (rice) in view of COVID-19 Pandemic so that they could cook the same at their homes.The amount released today would be credited into their bank accounts by the Chief Education Officers (CEOs) of their respective districts through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT). Out of the total released amount, Rs. 4.97 would be given to those belonging to primary classes per child per day and Rs 7.45 per child per day to those belonging to upper primary as cooking cost.Dr. Arun Manhas informed the Advisor that since the lockdown imposed due to Covid-19 pandemic, the Department in league with Food Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs has distributed dry ration (Rice) under the scheme among more than eight lakh students in Jammu and Kashmir. He further informed that 4,42,768 students belonged to Jammu Division whereas 3,59,718 students were given dry ration in Kashmir Division. Besides, Bank Account details of the students were also obtained for transferring the cooking component amount of Midday Meal Scheme to these students through DBT Mode.It is pertinent to mention here that Midday Meal Scheme is aimed at improving nutritional status of the children from classes First to Eighth studying in the Government schools besides encouraging the underprivileged children to attend the schools on regular basis.