Food for thought: Is Delhi's midday meal nutritious enough?
A hygiene incident at a Delhi government school has sparked a broader discussion regarding the nutritional quality and consistency of the city's midday meal program. Experts are calling for more diverse vegetable inclusion to improve student health outcomes.
Why it matters
The debate highlights the challenges of maintaining food safety and nutritional standards in large-scale public welfare programs.
NEW DELHI: Recently, a dead lizard was found in the midday meal served to students at a govt school in west Delhi’s Hari Nagar, once again putting the city’s school meal programme under scrutiny.Such incidents often trigger debates over hygiene and food safety. But beyond that are other questions. Even if an ideal setup is in place, what if not every child is getting the same amount? What if the menu could be more nutritious? What if adding eggs was an option? What if adding more vegetables could make a difference?What the scheme promisesUnder the PM Poshan scheme, every primary school child is entitled to a meal containing 20g of pulses, 50g of vegetables and 5g of oil or fat, together providing around 12g of protein and 450 calories.
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