School nutrition garden numbers rise to 40% in Meghalaya

Shillong: The Directorate of School Education & Literacy (DSEL) under the Meghalaya govt launched its first ever campaign to set up School Nutrition (Kitchen) Garden (SNG) by observing a bag-less day on April 29 under the theme ‘Kitchen Gardening & Plantation’.
The initiative aims to ensure 100% presence of SNGs in schools serving PM POSHAN meals in the state, an official statement said on Monday.
“On the day of the event, the entire team of PM POSHAN visited different schools. Even the DCs, BDOs and SDSEOs joined the events. Over 3000 SNGs have been set up in our schools. From around 9% of SNGs in 2023, the figures have now increased to 40% and continues to grow every day,” the statement read.
DSEL director Swapnil Tembe said efforts were made to have a positive impact on the supplementation of meals being served under the scheme by improving the nutritional status of students. The initiative also aims to imbibe “sustainable and mindful eating habit” in the students.
“Moreover, the practice of gardening teaches the students teamwork and also makes them aware about the prospects of horticulture,” he added.
“A month before the day of the event, all schools were directed to identify space and resources. In the absence of space, which was the case in most of the urban schools, they were advised to use pots and planters,” the official statement said.
“In various districts, the horticulture department and Krishi Vigyan Kendra came forward to provide the seeds and saplings. In many other places, community participation was witnessed where the parents and guardians came together to make fences for the kitchen garden,” the statement added.