DHNS
 
Bangalore, Nov 11: Karnataka will soon include eggs, milk and bananas in the menu of its mid-day meal scheme of Akshara Dasoha for school children.

The State Cabinet on Friday decided to implement a Central scheme in this regard. The 67 lakh students in the age group of 6-14 years covered by the mid-day meal scheme in the State will have the option of getting one of these three items — egg, milk or banana.

Briefing reporters after the Cabinet meeting, Primary and Secondary Education Minister Basavaraj Horatti said the Centre, which gives 50 paise per student for providing these items, had set a deadline of November 1 to include them in the menu. The State government will soon work out the cost details and also decide the date of implementation of new menu. 

The Government will soon decide the date for distribution of bicycles to girls after working out details. According to an estimate, 2.70 lakh boys in the State were eligible for the bicycle scheme. As many as 1.65 lakh girls have already been given bicycles.

The Cabinet also decided to table the Karnataka Private Medical Establishments Bill 2006, in the next legislature session to regulate the functioning of the medical establishments and to launch a crackdown against quacks. The decision had been taken in the wake of increase in number of complaints against quacks, especially after the outbreak of chikungunya.

The State Cabinet also decided to provide salary grant to 33 polytechnic colleges, which have completed 15 years, in Shimoga, Uttara Kannada, Bangalore, Raichur and Bellary, districts.

The Cabinet cleared a draft bill seeking to establish a Law University in Hubli.

The State Cabinet also gave its approval to the new agricultural policy that envisages a growth rate of 4.5 per cent in the farm sector, besides laying a road map for the holistic development of the sector for the next 10 years.

The policy, which has been prepared on the basis of recommendation of five expert committees, intends to focus on the hitherto neglected sections in the farming sector.

Mr Horatti said, the Cabinet appointed a sub-committee headed by Public Works and Energy Minister H D Revanna to monitor the implementation of a rehabilitation package to provide relief to families of farmers, who committed suicide and also to improve the condition of farmers in six districts.