The government of Odisha intends to increase milk quantity in school mid-day meals by 200ml.

The state of Odisha is making strides towards improving the health and well-being of its school children. Gokulananda Mallik, the Fisheries and Animal Resources Development Minister, announced on Tuesday that the government plans to add fortified milk in the mid-day meals served to students. This decision came after President Droupadi Murmu virtually launched the "Gift Milk" initiative by the National Dairy Development Board, in collaboration with the Odisha State Cooperative Milk Producers' Federation, in Rairangpur, Mayurbhanj district.

During the launch on Monday, the "Gift Milk" program was introduced in 29 schools in Rairangpur, the president's hometown. Minister Mallik shared that this initiative aims to combat malnutrition among children by providing them with 200 ml of milk fortified with Vitamin A and D on school days. This first phase of the program will benefit 1,184 students from 200 villages in the Rairangpur sub-division. It is a pilot project that will eventually be expanded to other parts of the state.

Mallik also mentioned the distribution of 3,000 high-quality cows from Gujarat to dairy farmers in Mayurbhanj. This is part of the Rashtriya Gokul Mission, launched by NDDB, with a planned expenditure of Rs 38 crore in the district. The minister explained that the objective of this initiative is to empower dairy farmers and strengthen the rural economy.

In addition, Mallik shared the state's plans to develop its cattle wealth through the "Mukshya Mantri Kamadhenu Yojana". This five-year project, with a budget of Rs 1,423.47 crore, aims to increase milk production in the state. It includes support for small dairy units, subsidized calf feed, enhanced livestock insurance coverage, and strengthening of dairy cooperatives.

Currently, the mid-day meal scheme serves around 44.5 lakh children in 51,500 primary and upper primary schools with cooked food. With the inclusion of fortified milk and other initiatives, the Odisha government is taking steps towards ensuring the overall well-being of its students.

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