Cherishing moment for kids: PM modi serves food to children at Vrindavan

Lucknow, February 11: Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said that good nutrition and healthy childhood is the foundation of New India. He was speaking after unveiling the plaque to mark the serving of 3rd billionth meal by Akshaya Patra Foundation at Vrindavan in Uttar Pradesh.

PM Modi said, Government has given special focus on nutrition, vaccination and sanitation for children with schemes like National Nutrition Mission, Mission Indradhanush and Swacch Bharat Mission. He said, many lives will be saved with the National Nutrition Mission reaching every mother and every child.

 

The Prime Minister said, under Mission Indradhanush, 3.4 crore children and 90 lakh pregnant women have vaccinated till now. He said, five new vaccines including the vaccine for Japanese encephalitis which has been affecting children in some districts of Uttar Pradesh have been added in the scheme. He said, hygiene is a important aspect to save children.

Prime Minister also served the 3rd billionth meal to underprivileged children from schools. Mid-Day Meal Scheme is considered to be the largest of its kind programme in the world. The program aims to boost enrollment, attendance, and retention in schools and to improve the health profile of children in the age group of 6-14 years.

The Akshaya Patra foundation serves as an implementing partner of Mid-Day Meal Scheme. In its 19-year journey, the foundation has served mid-day meals to 1.76 million children in twelve states covering 14,702 schools. The foundation works closely with the Human Resource Development Ministry and state governments to serve quality, hygienic, and nutritious food to millions of children.