Chandigarh, Oct 9 (UNI) Haryana Education Minister Mange Ram Gupta today announced to introduce mid-day meal scheme for seven lakh students of 6th class to 8th class in 36 blocks of the state from the current month.

The scheme would be extended to the remaining blocks of the state from April 1, 2008.

The Education Minister said that earlier this scheme was available to 15 lakh students of class Ist to 5th in the State.

He said a sum of about Rs 100 crore would be incurred annually under the scheme. Earlier a sum of Rs 73 crore was being incurred on the scheme annually.

Mr Gupta said this step would prove a boon for the poor children of the society as they would get hygienic food. Besides, it would help in increasing the attendance in the schools.

He said after extending this scheme upto 8th class, seven lakh more children would also get the benefit under the scheme.

The Education Minister said that the Haryana Government was providing coocked food to the children under the scheme and the students were getting different mid-day meals daily during the week.

He said the Haryana government was providing mid-day meal to the children with the assistance of Food and Nutrition Board.

He said the meals included sweet rice, vegetables, Pullav, Khichri, Dalia and Bakali.

UNI