All schools have been asked to set up a kitchen garden and instructions to this effect have been issued by the Centre to all the States and Union Territories. It is a very nice initiative by the Central government. The Ministry of Human Resource Development (HRD) has issued guidelines for developing and maintaining kitchen gardens in all schools, both in urban and rural areas. As per the guidelines, provision of seeds, saplings, organic manure, training and technical assistance under the scheme can be obtained by tying up with Krishi Vigyan Kendras, Department of Agriculture/Horticulture, Food and Nutrition Board, State agriculture universities or the Forest Department. Moreover, activities like construction of boundary walls and leveling of the land for the kitchen garden can be taken up under the MGNREGA scheme. The exercise is aimed at improving nutrition in schools, inculcating sustainable habits among children in an era of rapid urbanization and mounting environmental issues. It also seeks to develop among children the skill of growing own vegetables and fruits in schools and homes. The guidelines further emphasize that the kitchen garden, which is being referred to as a school nutrition garden, can be set up anywhere, even in a school in crowded urban areas.
Partha Pratim Mazumder,
Nalbari.