Bhubaneswar: The School and Mass Education Department of Odisha held a virtual review meeting focused on ensuring safe and nutritious mid-day meals (MDM) for students across all districts under the PM-Poshan scheme. The meeting was chaired by Commissioner-cum-Secretary Shalini Pandit, with district education officers (DEOs) and State Nodal Officer (PM-Poshan) Raghuram R. Iyer in attendance.
Highlighting the importance of providing nutritious and safe meals to students daily, Commissioner-cum-Secretary Pandit emphasized the critical role of mid-day meals in supporting children’s health and education. “A nutritious meal is every child’s right, and providing it is our primary responsibility,” she stated, underscoring the significance of continuous, high-quality meal distribution in all schools. Pandit also shared details of the financial grants allocated to districts under PM-Poshan, urging officials to ensure the use of quality rice and other food materials.
Pandit directed district authorities to prioritize meal safety, cleanliness, and accessibility, ensuring that meals reach students daily without interruption. She further emphasized that, under no circumstances, should the meal service be paused, as it is vital to student welfare.
State Nodal Officer Raghuram R. Iyer contributed to the discussion by exploring strategies to streamline the mid-day meal program. He provided insights on simplifying management practices to enhance the safety and efficiency of the meals served.
This review meeting reinforces Odisha’s commitment to delivering nutritious meals as part of the PM-Poshan scheme, with the state’s education and administrative bodies working in coordination to secure children’s health and support their educational journey.