Govt guidelines for pvt initiatives for anna dhanam in schools

: Puducherry government has framed guidelines for implementation of 'Anna Dhanam' in government schools to encourage initiatives by the community and its participation to supply healthy and hygienic food to children.
A Directorate of School Education order said the HRD Ministry had decided unanimously to encourage philanthropic scheme by involving members of the community in supply of nutritious and healthy food to school children.
The scheme, involving private individuals or the community, was aimed at 'inculcating feeling of equity and brotherhood among children of all communities and also to reduce gap between the school administration and the community", the order said.

Community members could serve 'quality food' in schools on important occasions like birthdays of the donor or donors, festivals, wedding anniversaries,or success in examinations.
The scheme would also let supply of food by private individuals to mark memorial days of ancestors in the family.
The date selected for Anna Dhanam should be a working day of the school and the donor could choose a school or a group of schools of his or her choice, it said.
The conditions governing the scheme stipulate that the donor should not use the occasion for publicity to promote self-interest and not carry out any political or religious propaganda within school premises citing the Anna Dhanam. Junk food should not be supplied.

The head of the institution should taste the food before distribution to children to ascertain its quality.