Odisha’s Fisheries and Animal Resources Development Minister, Gokulananda Mallik, announced plans to include 200 ml of fortified milk in the mid-day meals provided to schoolchildren across the state.

The announcement followed President Droupadi Murmu’s virtual launch of the ‘Gift Milk’ initiative by the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) for the Odisha State Cooperative Milk Producers’ Federation (OMFED) in Rairangpur, Mayurbhanj district.

Highlighting the programme’s goals, Mallik stated that the ‘Gift Milk’ initiative, introduced on Monday in 29 schools in Rairangpur, aims to combat malnutrition by providing 200 ml of milk fortified with Vitamins A and D to children on school days. Initially benefiting 1,184 students across 200 villages in the Rairangpur subdivision, the programme is set to expand to other parts of the state in subsequent phases.

Currently, the state serves cooked food to around 44.5 lakh children across 51,500 primary and upper primary schools under its mid-day meal scheme.

In addition to addressing child nutrition, the state is also taking measures to strengthen the dairy sector. Mallik announced the procurement of 3,000 high-quality cows from Gujarat for distribution among Mayurbhanj dairy farmers. This initiative, under the Rashtriya Gokul Mission, involves an investment of ₹38 crore and aims to make dairy farmers self-reliant while ensuring rural economic stability.

The minister further highlighted the state’s broader vision to develop its cattle wealth through the ‘Mukshya Mantri Kamadhenu Yojana.’ With a budget of ₹1,423.47 crore over five years, the scheme aims to boost milk production, support small dairy units, subsidize calf feed, expand livestock insurance coverage, and strengthen dairy cooperatives.

These initiatives reflect Odisha’s commitment to enhancing child nutrition and empowering its dairy farming community.

Source: PTI

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