SDMC starts nutrition garden in 48 schools
Following the lines of Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Nirman (PM Poshan) Scheme, the South Delhi Municipal Corporation has started nutrition garden in its 48 schools. With the motive to make school children aware about the utility and nutrition value of seasonal fruits and vegetables, the Ministry of Human Resource Development (GOI) has started the PM Poshan Scheme.
SDMC Commissioner Gyanesh Bharti, while describing the nutrition garden which is being developed in SDMC-run/aided schools, said the garden has been started in 48 schools while it will be started in 100 more schools by the end of December month.
The SDMC has planned to start nutrition garden in all 568 SDMC schools and SDMC-aided schools by the end of January next year. Bharti said schools which are facing shortage of land will start nutrition garden with the help of pots as fruits and vegetables will be planted/grown in them. Arrangement of pots will be made for such schools and the Horticulture Department has been asked to cooperate with the schools. The Horticulture Department will also organize workshops for starting nutrition garden.
Bharti said the majority of children report deficiency of protein, vitamin, calcium and essential minerals. Vegetables and fruits grown through Nutrition Garden will be used for Mid-Day meals which will further help in providing nutritious meals/food to children.
Director of SDMC’s Education Department Pradeep Kumar said fruits and vegetables like potato, radish, brinjal, coriander, spinach, mustard, tomato, gheya, tauri, okra, carrot, fenugreek, mango, pomegranate, mulberry, chikoo, lemon, malta, guava, etc will be grown in nutrition garden.
“These fruits and vegetables will be grown following the weather cycle and organic compost will be used to grow them. The students will be benefited from the initiative as they will get practical experience of gardening and will also feel close to nature. They will also know about nutrients and their importance,” he said.
