Children in MP miss out on basic nutrition: Pradhan

Bhopal: Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan has drawn attention to widespread nutritional deficits among schoolchildren in Madhya Pradesh, saying that of 1.5 crore students in the state, at least 50 lakh may not have eaten an apple by class five.Speaking at the launch of a workshop on the New Education Policy, Pradhan highlighted that many children rarely get essential foods like milk or nuts. "They must have seen it in the market but not eaten it. ‘Anjeer', they don't get to eat till class 10th. Many of them don't get a cup of milk when they need it. Who will provide them these nutritional things?" Pradhan asked.Then, referring to a local leader, he said: "Being a Hindu neta, he holds a lot of Bhandaras (community feasts) but I would request him that there are many who can organise bhandara, he should rather provide nutritional food like kaju or anjeer or besan ke ladoo to children in his constituency once in a week. When they get such nutritional food, one of them may develop into an Abdul Kalam." Later, during a visit to Kamla Nehru Sandipani school in TT Nagar, the Union minister told media persons that he has requested public representatives that they give fruits to children from deprived sections of society for their proper nutrition rather than giving bouquets to visiting guests to their place.