Panaji: in Goa, as many as 121 governments and elementary schools assisted have developed nutritional gardens in their place over the past few years.
The garden has been developed as part of the Nutritional Gardens program of the Ministry of Education Union under the midday eating scheme.
The idea behind this scheme is to create interest in nature and gardening among children, while also raising awareness among them about organic yields and nutrients.
Working to create gardens is done by the involvement of children during the pre-pandemic period.
During the recent review of the midday eating scheme, Goa officials told the Union Ministry that 121 schools had created such a nutritional garden.
In accordance with the target of the Ministry, Goa must develop these parks in all 1,462 governments and elementary schools assisted in the state, where children benefit from the midday eating scheme.
The ministry said that the nutritional garden that was being developed in 121 schools meant that only 8% of the goa target had been fulfilled.
Goa officials told the authority of the central government who worked on a nutrition scheme that had slowed because of a pandemic during the last academic session.
“The country has developed a gardens of school nutrition at only 121 schools from 1,462 schools,” said the meeting.
“It was told that because of school closure for 2020-21, the work of the school nutritional park development could not be taken,” it was recorded in the minutes of the review meeting held with ministry officials.
Goa in turn said that the state must develop school nutrition gardens in the remaining schools in convergence with local Krishi Vigyan Kendras, the Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Panchayat and the Horticulture Department.
“Funds available under Mnrega from the Rural Development Department for certain components can also be used in convergence with them,” Goa said.
Edible vegetables and herbs are planted in nutritional gardens.
In Goa, the Department of Agriculture officials have been involved in the implementation of schemes at school.