How Government Schools In Karnataka Address Hunger And Nutrition In Addition To Free Education

Bangalore is home to famous schools and colleges. It also boasts of a number of Government run schools which offer free education to the children belonging to the lower strata of the society. Until a few years ago, there were less children attending these schools,since they were too poor and had to earn a meager income to support their families. Several Indian states then realized that they need to offer a midday meal for children to be able to attend school. Karnataka state, of which Bangalore is the capital, initiated the next step of actually implementing this in its various schools across the state.

The introduction of the midday meal scheme also known as the Bisi Oota Karyakrama(in Kannada) saw a hundred fold increase in the numbers that attended school. Spurred on by the success of the pilot project which benefited only the Primary school children, it was extended until the Class X. Children were now sent to school by parents who otherwise sent them to earn their livelihood so as to be able to feed them atleast one meal a day. Being offered a hot meal at lunch changed life for many kids who normally went hungry.

Government schools offer free education, free note books and text books, free shoes(0ne black pair and one white keads along with socks),stationary,free uniforms that are stitched. Education includes digital literacy and cultural activities. The midday meal is prepared on the premises of the school in some and in others the meal is outsourced from the ISKON, a religious organization. Also known as the Akshaya Patre program, they prepare, pack and deliver food prepared from their hygienic kitchens by their own transport to the various Government schools all over Karnataka and have now extended their program to North Indian states as well.

The students who now attend school regularly are able to study and get better grades than before, since they are fed with a hot meal at noon. Previously, they used to faint out of sheer exhaustion and would not participate in sports and would fail miserably in tests for lack of concentration and memory power. And would soon be a school dropout. Some of the students still depend on that one meal they get at midday in school. Rules have been laid out by the Government regarding the nutritional requirements that must be met with the midday meal for these children. Safety and hygiene are being adhered to strictly as well.