More community role in mid-day meals

The HRD ministry will replicate the Gujarat model of "Tithi Bhojan" to ensure community participation in mid-day meal scheme in states for strengthening the monitoring system, an official statement said Wednesday.

In a meeting under the chairmanship of Human Resource Development Minister Smriti Irani, the empowered committee decided to introduce "Tithi Bhojan" across the country, following its success in Gujarat where community members contribute to improve quality of mid-day meals.

Under the concept in Gujarat, villagers sponsor the food, with sweets, for children on different occasions and also make contributions in kind by providing utensils, etc.

Representatives of state governments, food and nutrition experts and senior central government officers attended the meeting.

The committee has also decided to introduce a protocol for standards in food safety and testing which will be rolled out in the new year to ensure quality of meals and appropriate nutrition standards under the mid-day meal scheme.