To ensure students are fed a nutritious diet, the education ministry has proposed an overall stipend of Nu 2,040 for every student in a month. This is in line with Druk Nyamrup Tshogpa’s (DNT) pledge of free nutritious lunch programs in all schools
At the Friday meet today, the education minister was asked to update on its initiative to increase the stipends for students. In response, the education minister Jai Bir Rai said the proposal is currently under review.
“The finance ministry is currently reviewing it. Our target is to start from the next fiscal year. They might soon come up with some reliable calculated amount and they will give to us. Certainly, the stipend will be increased but then how much we are not sure. We have proposed Nu 2,040 per child, per month. But this will be recalculated and we will be informed.”
The Agriculture Minister, Yeshey Penjor added the increased amount will be utilized for the supply of nutritious food in various schools.
“The increase stipends will be used for providing nutritious food and that money will not necessarily go to the education ministry. The money will be allocated to agriculture to be invested in producing the food resources and then ministry will supply nutritious food items to the ministry of education for feeding students.”
He added the Ministry of Agriculture and Forests with Ministries of Education, Health, Labour and Human Resources are preparing strategic plans to provide nutritious food not only to schools but also to the hospitals.
At present, there are three categories of feeding: three meals for boarders with a stipend of Nu 1,000 per child, two meals per day in primary schools with a stipend of Nu 670 per child and one meal a day for day scholars in central school with a stipend of Nu 335 per child.
Today, there are 263 feeding schools, including 162 schools that the government took over from the WFP this year after it phased out of the country.
