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Aims to strengthen the functioning of the PM-POSHAN Scheme
The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) and the Government of Rajasthan handed over free tablets to women school Cook-Cum-Helpers (CCHs), marking the launch of a mobile learning application to strengthen the functioning of the PM-POSHAN Scheme formerly known as the Mid-Day Meal scheme.
The application, Food Safety for Mid-day Meals (FoSafMDM), developed by WFP, was unveiled on the 9 April in the state capital Jaipur by Dr Bulaki Das Kalla, Minister of Education, Government of Rajasthan. The event marked the commencement of the programme in 186 schools in the Viratnagar block.
“Training of CCHs, who play a critical role in preparing and providing hot-cooked meals to school children, is an important aspect of the scheme. Safe and hygienic meals contribute to providing better and safe nutrition for our children. The Tablets and the training on how to use this application will deliver insights for scaling this initiative,” said Dr. Kalla, speaking at the press conference.
“Nutritional improvement is inextricably linked with food safety. Unsafe food served in the schools has the potential to create a vicious cycle of disease and malnutrition, impacting school children partaking in these day meals,” said Eric Kenefick, Deputy Country Director for WFP India.
“The app aims to fill a critical knowledge gap among CCHs by providing an easy, accessible, and understandable mobile learning platform. The one-of-its-kind mobile-learning (m-learning) platform of the app allows the CCHs to register and go through training by themselves on many aspects of food safety and hygiene,” he added.