Local Seasonal Fruits for Punjab Govt School Students; Boost for farmers as well

Last Updated: 28 Feb 2024

07 Feb 2024: Punjab government's policy to provide local fruits for students in Punjab as part of mid-day meal benefits both students and local farmers^[1]

Implementation to be done immediately i.e. from 12 Feb 2024^[1:1]

Details^[1:2]

• Directions issued to District education officers and School heads
• School heads can purchase local fruit of the area on their own from the funds already provided to them
  • Kinnow: Schools in south Punjab (Abohar area)
  • Litchi: Pathankot schools
  • Guavas: for schools in Hoshiarpur
  • Ber: Asked to consider for Malwa region
  • Mango for schools in Shivalik foothills
• Local fruits to be served every Monday, instead of bananas earlier

Request from Farmers

• The farmers’ bodies had appealed to the government that instead of bananas, which are grown outside the state and reach Punjab after high transportation costs, the government must consider local varieties of fruit for the Mid-Day Meal scheme for students^[1:3]
• Farmers have urged the school principals to directly purchase the fruits from them so that they get a better price for the produce^[2]

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