Punjab State Food Commission Chairman Bal Mukand Sharma on Thursday held a meeting to take stock of the current status of implementation of all major schemes here. The schemes and programmes reviewed included School Health Program, Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY), fair price shops, integrated child development scheme, Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana, National Food Security Act, mid-day meal and food/water samplings by health teams and others.
Officials informed the chairman that a total of 243253 children are availing mid-day meal in Ludhiana and different-different meals are served daily. Further, the use of Refined oil has also been prohibited in the mid-day meal.
Moreover, there were 1,616 fair price shops and 4,65,575 ration card holders in the district. There were 6,774 AAY cards with 21,921 members, besides 4,58,801 priority Households (PHHs) and 1,74,8791 members.
Each AAY card holder was being given 35 kg of food grain every month under the programme and PHH cardholders get 5 kg of food grain per person per month. The Chairman was also informed by the officials that food samples were collected by health teams, reports of which were awaited.
Additional Deputy Commissioner Amarjit Bains informed the Chairman that 87 new Anganwari centres are coming up in Ludhiana on which the Chairman stressed that Poshan Vatikas must be developed there to ensure nutrient-rich food to the children.
The Chairman also asked the officials to setting up of kitchen gardening having plants of various varieties of medicinial, vegetables and fruits. Further, Sharma also emphasized need for regular testing of mid-day meals and asked the officials concerned to maintain a food test register in schools, provide quality food to children and maintain cleanliness while preparing meals.
The drinking water quality in schools must also be ensured and RO systems must be developed in the schools which don't have same facility. He also directed that health check-up of students and medical check-up of mid-day meal workers in schools be conducted every six months.
He also asked the officials to ensure fresh vegetables/ fruits to students during mid-day meals. ADC Amarjit Bains, Civil Surgeon Dr Pardeep Kumar Mohindra, DFSCs Shaifali, Sartaj Singh and DHO Dr Amarjeet Kaur were among others present in the meeting.