Rajasthan to observe September as 'month of nutrition'

Rajasthan will observe September as the "month of nutrition" to create awareness among people living in the state, Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje said today.

Addressing the state from the SMS stadium here on Independence Day, Raje announced that from next month, students of Class 1 to 8 of government schools will be given milk daily instead of thrice a week.

The government had introduced a scheme to provide milk to students in government schools thrice a week last month.

From September, the students will get milk on a daily basis for which additional funds of Rs 203 crore will be allocated, she said.

In the month of nutrition, the chief minister said, awareness in rural as well as urban areas will be created for nutrition.

Besides, she said, students in the age group of 3-6 years, adolescent girls and pregnant women registered with Anganwadi centres will also be provided milk thrice a week and the government will allocate Rs 100 crore for this.

The chief minister also announced two per cent interest subsidy to the farmers who repay loans taken from cooperative banks on time.

Construction of 94 new school buildings, vocational courses in 185 additional schools of secondary and senior secondary level, lowering of electricity duty for induction furnaces, mild steel re-rolling mills and mild steel rolling mills from 52 paise to 40 paise per unit were among other announcements.

The chief minister said her government worked with commitment for all sections of the society without discrimination.

"We want Rajasthan to become a modern state and get recognition in the country and around the world for modern education, new vision and new technology," Raje said.

"Our next step is to make our children modern citizens. They should not lag behind in competition at any level. It is our endeavour that our girls get more attracted towards STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths)," she said.

Ceremonies to mark Independence Day were held in government offices, schools and other institutions across the state.