PANJIM: Concerned that artificial ripened fruits could harm the health of students, the Education Department has decided to drop fruits from the mid-day meal menu this coming academic year and replace it with chapatti-bhaji or puri-bhaji.
The Education Department has already revised the mid-day meal scheme by knocking out pulao, which was disliked by students in almost all schools.
“Students don’t prefer to eat pulao during morning hours. We, therefore, revised the scheme to include chapatti-bhaji or puri-bhaji in addition to existing pav-bhaji,” Director G P Bhat told Herald. As per the schedule, pav-bhaji will be served four days a week, and chapatti or puri with bhaji will be provided for two days.
However, plans to include fruits to the menu has been rejected on grounds that these are chemically ripened and that no storage facilities are available to preserve these fruits. “There are no proper storage facilities. But our major concern is that fruits are chemically ripened and this can affect health of the children,” he suggested.
