News
Cabinet approves a glass of milk for every schoolchild
View(s):A proposal to provide a glass of milk to every schoolchild, especially those in remote and isolated schools, was approved by the Cabinet this week.
The proposal submitted by Education Minister Akila Viraj Kariyawasam was for schoolchildren to be given milk packets.
Packets of 150-ml of milk will be purchased from State-owned dairy producer Milco Pvt Ltd, at an amended unit price of Rs 20, according to a trilateral agreement between the Education Ministry, Social Services, Welfare & Livestock Development Ministry and Milco.
The Minister in the proposal said the objective of strengthening the milk programme within schools is mainly to promote fresh milk consumption among the general public, while encouraging dairy farmers, and familiarisation of domestic nutrition patterns.
With this year’s interim Budget proposal to increase the purchase price of fresh milk by Rs 10 per litre, milk will be purchased from the dairy farmers at Rs 70 per litre.
Recently, the Minister told Parliament that students of 770 isolated schools, 3,324 remote schools and about 3,000 other schools are receiving free meals. However, he noted that no isolated or remote school is presently receiving fresh milk during school hours, while only 302 other schools are receiving milk daily.
He said the Government will take all measures to provide all students enrolled to isolated schools with milk and free meals including grains and egg. -NF
| Recently, the Minister told Parliament that students of 770 isolated schools, 3,324 remote schools and about 3,000 other schools are receiving free meals. However, he noted that no isolated or remote school is presently receiving fresh milk during school hours, while only 302 other schools are receiving milk daily. |