Bhubaneswar : In the wake of COVID-19 lockdowns, Odisha government has decided to provide food security allowances under Mid-Day Meal (MDM) programme to students across the State.
In a letter to MDM State nodal officer, the School and Mass Education Department has directed to provide food security allowance for 57 days starting from June 14 to August 31, 2020, to the eligible students.
“While headmasters of schools will look after the distribution of rice to the students, payment of cooking cost for the 57 days will be transferred to their parents’ or guardians’ bank accounts,” the letter read.
The notification also said that the headmasters can explore options to sell the MDM rice to quarantine centres at Rs 32 per kg and deposit the money with the District Education Officer (DEO).
All COVID 19 safety norms like face masking, hand sanitizing, social distancings should be strictly followed during the transportation and dry ration rice distribution, the notification read.