CFTRI offers help to better midday meals, milk scheme

The Central Food Technological Research Institute (CFTRI) has evinced interest in adding value to the mid-day meal and Ksheera Bhagya (providing milk to students in government schools) schemes in the State.

The intention to improve the nutrition level of the food provided to schoolchildren was expressed by Prof Ram Rajasekharan, director of CFTRI, at the inauguration of the Foundation Day programme of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and CFTRI Open Day in the city on Thursday.

Speaking to reporters after the event, Rajasekharan said they had sought permission from the district administration to explore possibilities of value addition, if any, in the ongoing schemes.

Rs 7 cr earmarked

Rajasekharan said that CSIR, with 37 laboratories across the country, had earmarked Rs seven crore to Rs eight crore for the purpose. Since the facility (CFTRI) is in Mysore, the initiative will start from the city.

 A few food scientists have already visited some anganwadis in the district, along with officials of the Women and Child Development department.

Apart from students, focus will also be on lactating mothers, who are extended several facilities from the government to check malnutrition among newborns.

Earlier, deputy commissioner C Shikha inaugurated the CSIR Foundation Day and CFTRI Open Day programme.

Balasaraswathi, head of technology transfer and business development, CSIR-CFTRI, was present.