The ‘Gift Milk’ program commenced on Monday in 29 schools within Rairangpur
OdishaPlus Bureau
In a notable advancement, the Odisha government intends to incorporate 200 ml of fortified milk into the mid-day meals provided to school children. This initiative follows the virtual launch of the ‘Gift Milk’ program by President Droupadi Murmu, which was organized by the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) for the Odisha State Cooperative Milk Producers’ Federation (OMFED) in Rairangpur, located in the Mayurbhanj district. Gokulananda Mallik, Minister for Fisheries and Animal Resources Development in Odisha, stated that the initiative is designed to combat malnutrition among children by supplying 200 ml of milk enriched with Vitamins A and D on school days.
The ‘Gift Milk’ program commenced on Monday in 29 schools within Rairangpur. During a briefing on this initiative, the minister noted that approximately 1,184 students from 200 villages in the Rairangpur sub-division of Mayurbhanj district will benefit from the pilot phase of the NDDB’s ‘Gift Milk’ program. The minister indicated that the initiative will eventually be expanded to other regions of the state.
As per the information provided by the minister, around 44.5 lakh children across 51,500 primary and upper primary schools are currently receiving cooked meals under the mid-day meal scheme. Additionally, the minister announced that 3,000 high-quality cows sourced from Gujarat will be allocated to dairy farmers in Mayurbhanj. The government has earmarked Rs 38 crore for this initiative under the Rashtriya Gokul Mission, which was launched by the NDDB in Mayurbhanj.
The minister stated that the primary aim of the initiative is to achieve self-sufficiency for dairy farmers and to promote a stable rural economy. He further mentioned that the state intends to enhance cattle wealth through the ‘Mukhyamantri Kamadhenu Yojana,’ a five-year program with a financial allocation of Rs 1,423.47 crore. The scheme is designed to increase milk production within the state. Additionally, it will provide support to small dairy operations, offer subsidized calf feed, improve livestock insurance coverage, and reinforce dairy cooperatives.
As per the information provided by the minister, approximately 44.5 lakh children from 51,500 primary and upper primary schools are receiving cooked meals through the mid-day meal scheme. The minister also indicated that 3,000 high-quality cows sourced from Gujarat will be allocated to dairy farmers in Mayurbhanj. The government has earmarked Rs 38 crore for the Rashtriya Gokul Mission, which was initiated by the NDDB in Mayurbhanj.
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