Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has decided to include fruits in the midday meal menu for school students who do not consume eggs. This move aims to ensure nutritional equity for all children under the PM POSHAN (Midday Meal) scheme.
In a letter issued today to all District Education Officers (DEOs), the School and Mass Education (S&ME) Department directed that fruits such as bananas, mangoes, and apples be provided to vegetarian students from Sishu Vatika (pre-primary) up to Class X.
Fruits will be served on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays—the same days when eggs are distributed to other students. The fruit provided will be of equivalent cost to one egg.
The DEOs have been asked to make the necessary logistical and financial arrangements to implement this directive smoothly.
