Assam Join Hands With Sri Sathya Sai Annapoorna Trust To Develop Nutritional Status Of School Children 

New Delhi, Jan 13, 2025: The Government of Assam has taken several steps to improve the nutritional status of children, enabling them to pursue proper education and unlock their full potential.

Malnutrition remains a significant barrier to the proper growth and development of children. Under the PM POSHAN initiative in Assam, numerous exemplary steps have been taken to address malnutrition among children studying in Ka-shreni to Class VIII. These efforts aim to ensure better health and learning outcomes. Key initiatives include -- Sampriti bhojan, a community-driven program where local members voluntarily contribute food items to schools on special occasions like birthdays, weddings, and national importance days; and additional egg provision: weekly provision of two extra eggs for children in government schools located in tea garden and char/chapori areas to improve their nutritional intake.

Recognising that many children worldwide, including in Assam, attend school hungry, the State Government has intensified its focus on alleviating malnutrition and ensuring that children have the nutrition they need to thrive. In a groundbreaking collaboration, the Sri Sathya Sai Annapoorna Trust under the Sri Madhusudan Sai Global Humanitarian Mission has joined hands with PM POSHAN, Assam. Sri Sathya Sai Annapoorna Trust nourishes over 10 million schoolchildren across 143,000 schools in India and abroad, providing essential nutrients for their growth and development.

At the core of this partnership a Multi Nutrient drink which is scientifically formulated will be provided to the students of Assam. When this powder is mixed withwater and jaggery delivers around 50% of a child’s Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA), ensuring their essential nutritional needs are met.

As part of this collaboration, PM POSHAN, Assam has decided to provide a glass of multi-nutrient drink every morning to children in Government schools in Tea Garden and SC/ST dominated areas on pilot basis during the year 2024-25. The drink will be prepared using 10 grams of SaiSure Ragi mixed with 10 grams of jaggery, yielding 250 ml of a nutritious beverage that can be served to two children.

This pilot initiative, launched on January 9, under PM POSHAN in convergence with the Sri Sathya Sai Annapoorna Trust, marks a significant step forward in addressing malnutrition. It is anticipated that this intervention will eradicate malnutrition among school-going children, improve children’s overall health and well-being, and reduce school dropout rates in underserved communities.

By serving SaiSure multi nutrient drink mixed with jaggery, the Assam government is laying the foundation for a brighter, healthier generation of students, committed to holistic development and education for all.