Mumbai: BMC gives milk to students from June 15

Mumbai, May 19: The Standing Committee of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has decided to give 200 ml flavoured milk daily free-of-cost to students of the civic body-run schools in the metropolis.

''The BMC school students will be given flavoured milk free of cost from June 15 this year,'' said Mangesh Satamkar, Chairman of the Education Committee of the BMC.

The proposal for the milk is still to be cleared in the Standing Committee of the BMC, which is awaiting clearance from the BMC administration and has still not been passed, he said.

The Standing Committee has decided on various schemes for the school students in the BMC-run schools, besides the provision of flavoured milk, other things include free uniforms, water bottles, books and shoes. The proposal for the same has been passed by the Standing Committee.

According to BMC officials, the proposal is with the higher authorities in the department and will come for clearance in the Standing Committee meeting next week.

Mr Satamkar said ''Since all the proposals have been passed in the Standing Committee and only the one concerning the milk is pending and we are sure that it will be passed in the Standing Committee meeting on May 25.'' The proposal for the free distribution of milk has been pending in the administration because a decision on whether the milk should be given in a tetra pack or a bottle has to be taken before finalising the proposal, he added.

BMC sources said the officials want to give the milk in a bottle and the elected representatives want the milk to be given in a tetra pack.

Leader of the opposition in the BMC Raj Hans Singh said ''Distributing free milk as a source of nourishment to the school children is a very good proposal and should be passed. If some officials or anyone else is trying to stall the proposal for personal gains, then he should be exposed and his name should be made public.''

UNI