Daijiworld Media Network - Gadag
Gadag, Sep 13: The inclusion of sweets in mid-day meals has helped improve student attendance in government schools across Gadag district, with the innovative ‘Amrut Bhojana (Sihioota)’ or ‘sweet lunch’ initiative gaining popularity among students.
The initiative was introduced on a trial basis in Gadag and Ron taluks five years ago. Following a significant improvement in attendance and a reduction in the number of students skipping classes, the programme was extended to government schools across the district.
Under the initiative, sweets are served to students during festivals and other important state and national occasions. The practice began when a few donors sponsored sweets for children in rural schools along with mid-day meals during the month of Shravana.
Subsequently, School Development and Monitoring Committees (SDMCs) and teachers in several schools began contributing money and using a portion of school development funds to provide sweets to students under the name ‘Shravana Siri Sihi Bhojana’.
The initiative soon gained popularity in urban government schools as well. Schools have now begun competing to serve their students popular sweets, with some providing jalebi, boondi laddu, holige and Mysuru pak regularly during Shravana.
In some rural schools in Ron taluk, students had earlier been skipping classes during Shravana to visit temples and have ‘sweet lunch’. After noticing the trend, teachers, with the support of donors, began serving sweets to students at schools along with their regular mid-day meals during the month.
The initiative subsequently helped improve attendance. Taking note of the results, the Deputy Director of Public Instruction (DDPI) instructed education department officials to share photographs and videos of ‘Amrut Bhojana’ on social media to encourage other schools across the district to adopt the practice.
Panchayya Hiremath, headmaster of a government school in Ron taluk, said donors sponsor different varieties of sweets for students from Nagara Amavasya to Benakana Amavasya during Shravana. Gram panchayat presidents, members and former members, SDMC members and teachers are among those contributing to the initiative.
“Amrut Bhojana is offered along with the Prime Minister’s Nutrition Abhiyaana,” he said.
Buradi said such initiatives not only attract children to government schools but also contribute to improving the quality of education. He added that the department would continue encouraging and effectively implementing innovative ideas in the future.
Shankar Hadagali, assistant director of the Mid-Day Meal Scheme in Gadag, described ‘Amrut Bhojana’ as a novel initiative that has encouraged more children to attend classes regularly. He said student attendance had improved in several rural schools after its introduction and added that the initiative had also strengthened the bond between students and teachers.