CM Sukhu launches 'Mukhyamantri Bal Paushtik Aahar Yojana' in HP

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu launched 'Mukhyamantri Bal Paushtik Aahar Yojana' to provide nutritious foods to schoolchildren and a scheme to provide free Tablets to primary school teachers to boost digitalisation in the state educational and administrative system. The scheme was launched by the chief minister Sukhu in Hamirpur, Himachal Pradesh, on 17 August 2024.

Mukhyamantri Bal Poshtik Aahar Yojana

• The   Mukhyamantri Bal Poshtik Aahar Yojana is only for government school children.
• Students from nursery to class eight will be provided boiled eggs or fruits once a week. The  fresh fruits will be sourced from local markets based on the preferences of the children,
• The scheme will complement the existing mid-day meal scheme and provide nutritious food to children in government schools.
• It will cover 15,181 government schools and 5,34,293 students in the state.
• The state government has allocated Rs.12.75 crore for the 'Mukhyamantri Bal Poshtik Aahar Yojana' for 2024-25.

Tablet scheme 

• The state government will provide free tablets to 17,510 primary school teachers in the state.
• This is expected to boost digitisation in the educational and administrative system.
• According to the government, the distribution of tablets will modernise teaching methods, improve access to digital educational resources, and simplify administrative tasks, such as recording attendance and updating data. By equipping teachers with these tools, overall quality would improve.
• Teachers can now access online training programmes through tablets, which will enhance their overall professional development. 

Mukhyamantri Sukh Ashray Yojana

• The chief minister said that under the Mukhyamantri Sukh Ashray Yojana, the government has adopted 6,000 orphaned children. 
• The scheme was launched by the Sukhu government in February 2023 to provide education, care, and support to the state's orphan children until they reach the age of 27.