THE JHARKHAND STORY NETWORK
Daltonganj, May 30: Government primary and upper primary schools here in Palamu are being explored if its campus can have moringa plants called sahjan in local parlance.
District Superintendent of Education Sandeep Kumar told this correspondent on Friday, “We are asking the management of the primary and upper primary government schools to find out if moringa plants can be grown on the campus.”
“Moringa is a fast-growing plant. It’s drought-resistant too. The benefits of the moringa plants are numerous,” added Sandeep Kumar.
He said, ” The idea is to prepare pulses for the midday meals with the moringa leaves. Moringa is a highly antioxidant. It’s too good for the kids.”
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Ragi-Based Sweets Become Weekly Mid-Day Meal Highlight
Speaking about the government upgraded middle school at Rajwadeeh, Sandeep Kumar said, “Here our school children get Ragi ka ladoo. It’s one Ragi ladoo for each student. If it’s not ladoo, then it’s Ragi halwa. It comes every Wednesday.”
“We have a very dedicated and sincere headmaster here in this Rajwadeeh government school in Parshuram Tiwary who thinks about his students and school like anything. Here, Ragi ladoo or Ragi halwa is a fixture of the mid-day meal,” reiterated the Palamu District Superintendent of Education.
Student Attendance Reflects Challenges at Upper Primary Level
On being asked about the attendance of the students in the government primary and upper primary schools, Sandeep Kumar said, “Attendance in the primary section is 70 per cent plus while in the upper primary schools it’s 66 per cent.”
He further said, “Attendance of students in the primary section is on the upper side in comparison to the attendance of the students in the upper primary section, as children of the upper primary section walk down with the parents helping them to eke out a living.”
Schools Seek Cooking Equipment
Some 35 government primary and upper primary schools have asked for gas stoves and cylinders for preparing mid-day meals, he informed.
Gas cylinders are booked in the name of the Saraswati Vahini Mata Samiti. The custodian remains the District Superintendent of Education Office.
“Among these 35 government primary and upper primary schools are some schools whose gas cylinders were stolen. Some schools which were merged earlier are now demerged. These demerged schools need gas cylinders,” he reminded.
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Eggs and Varied Meals Counter Nutrition Gaps
Asked about eggs in the mid-day meals, Kumar said ” Eggs are not served on Tuesday. Its serving days are Tuesday and Friday.”
Boiled eggs are given, and sometimes egg curry is cooked for a change of taste for the students.
“People look down upon the mid-day meal in the government schools and talk about it in a poor way. But it means great and good for children of lesser gods whose parents are to strive for food in the day. For these children mid-day meal is not a luxury but a necessity,” reiterated Sandeep Kumar.
