Hile, Dec. 4: Sangurigadhi Rural Municipality in Dhankuta district has initiated a campaign to prepare midday school meals at the schools to avoid the risk of junk food within the rural municipality.

While many schools in the district are worried about the adequacy of the government grant for quality midday school meals, Sangurigadhi Rural Municipality has eased the task by providing an additional Rs. 10 per student. 

Under the midday meal programme, students are given midday meals at the rate of Rs. 15 per student per day. 

With the incensement of midday meal allowance from Rs. 15 to Rs. 25, every school in the rural municipality now has a midday meal schedule for students from grades one to five. These meals are prepared in the schools.  

Jiwan Kumari Rai, headmistress of Golkhadi Secondary School in Sangurigadhi Rural Municipality-7, said that finding caterers at the previous rate of Rs. 15 per student was challenging, but the issue had now been resolved. 

According to the Education Department of the rural municipality, there are around 59 community schools with approximately 1,700 students enrolled from grades one to five. 

Dharma Dhwaj Rai, chairman of the Golkhadi Secondary School Management Committee, said that due to the region’s remoteness, many students needed to walk for around 1-2 hours to reach the schools. 

Stating that it was difficult to provide enough meals for students at the previous rate, he said that the increased amount not only helped fulfil basic nutritional needs but also encouraged students to attend school regularly. 

He said that they had even prohibited junk food in the school.