Bhubaneswar, August 2: In order to provide and promote nutritional equity among schoolchildren, the Odisha government has announced that fruits will now be included in the midday meal menu for students who do not consume eggs.
The School and Mass Education (S&ME) Department issued a directive to all District Education Officers (DEOs), instructing them to provide fruits such as bananas, mangoes, or apples to vegetarian students from Sishu Vatika (pre-primary) up to Class X.
Fruits will be distributed on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays—the same days on which eggs are served to non-vegetarian students. The fruits offered will match the cost of one egg, ensuring balanced nutritional support across dietary preferences.
DEOs have been tasked with making the necessary financial and logistical arrangements to implement the order effectively under the PM POSHAN (Midday Meal) scheme.
