Human Resource Development Ministry has decided to introduce the practice of Tithi Bhojan in Mid Day Meal Scheme across the country on the line of Gujarat. Under the concept, villagers sponsor the food with sweets for children on different occasions and also make contributions in kind by providing utensils.

Tithi Bhojan aims at improving quality of the school mid day meals. It can also reflect in the form of enhancement of the enrolment and regular attendance of the children at the school.

A decision in this regard was taken at the meeting of the Empowered Committee chaired by Human Resource Development Minister Smriti Irani in New Delhi on Thursday. During the meeting, Mrs. Irani also reviewed the implementation of the scheme and decided to strengthen the monitoring system as well as to ensure community participation in the execution of the scheme.

An official release said, the committee also decided to introduce a protocol for standards in food safety and testing in mid day meal which will be rolled out next year. It aims at ensuring quality of the meals and appropriate nutrition standards under the scheme.