Variety rice for Tamil Nadu children
Rice with masala egg at noonmeal centres, anganwadis
By : DC Correspondent
Update: 2014-08-27 06:02 GMT
Chennai: Asserting that Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa was keen on improving the lot of the children partaking meals at anganwadi centres in the state, social welfare minister B. Valarmathi directed officials to ensure quality was maintained in the variety rice (kalavai satham) with ‘masala’ egg being dished out at all the noon meal centres and anganwadis.Asking officials, especially project officers of ICDS and nutritious meal programme officials to take utmost care in implementing the scheme, the minister said the officials should undertake surprise visits at the noon meal centres and anganwadis where variety rice was being provided.
Unfurling the national tricolour from the ramparts of the historic Fort St. George here for the 14th time, on August 15, the Chief Minister announced that the provision of variety rice with ‘masala’ egg would be extended to all the noon-meal centres and anganwadis across the state under the nutritious meal programme.
It was initially launched on pilot basis in March 2013 at anganwadi centres and noon-meal centres attached to three schools in one block of each district to benefit 91,881 children. The expanded scheme would benefit over 68.3 lakh children and school students in the state. There are 54,439 anganwadi centres and 42,619 noon-meal centres in TN. “You should understand the importance of our CM’s initiative. She has allocated Rs103.28 crore for this programme,” Ms Valarmathi said and told officials to make sure that benefits reached kids and school students.