NEW DELHI: With very few states showing interest in “tithi bhojan” — the NDA government’s innovation in the midday meal scheme — HRD minister Smriti Irani has written to all chief ministers to replicate it in their states.
Emphasizing that many states have introduced best practices which should be shared across India, Irani has given the instance of tithi bhojan of Gujarat.
Under tithi bhojan, on important days like child birth, marriage, birthdays, success in examination, anniversaries and festivals, many families celebrate by serving special meals in schools.
ithi bhojan is voluntarily served among children in a school or a group of schools.
“This allows enrichment and supplementary nutrition for schoolchildren while creating large-scale community participation. It also generates social harmony, a feeling of equality and brotherhood among children, and brings the school administration and the community closer,” Irani wrote.
She also pointed out that many schools had received useful articles like cookingware, utensils, dinner sets and glasses under the scheme.
The minister acknowledged that there are variations of tithi bhojan in many states and said such a scheme should be used for enrichment of the midday meal scheme.
Irani reminded the CMs that the empowered committee on MDM in October unanimously approved adoption of tithi bhojan. “So far states have not responded favourably and only few have shown interest. Government is not keen that states should copy tithi bhojan but they can take the best elements from it,” said a source.