BHOPAL: Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has said all government schools will have Maa Ki Bagia (kitchen garden) for growing seasonal vegetables. The motto of kitchen gardens are to provide fresh vegetables to students, he said. Chouhan made the above remark at Minto Hall on Thursday, when he virtually inaugurated 2,500 kitchen sheds and 7,100 kitchen gardens.

At the virtual function, he also spoke to some women of self-help groups who prepare mid-day meal in schools. The cook of a primary school at Fanda in Bhopal Sunita Maran said that she had named the kitchen garden of her school as ‘Ma Ki Bagia.’ Chouhan said that he had agreed about the name and that he would christen the kitchen garden of his residence as ‘Ma Ki Bagia.’

He said kitchen garden would be set up in every government school under MNREGA. If there is lack of space in any school for it, garden can be set up in any other area in the village where the institution is located, he said. He also appealed to school authorities to take cooperation of students to maintain cleanliness in schools and kitchen gardens.

Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said that the students used to sweep the floor of their schools earlier to maintain cleanliness. He said he, too, would have the clean the floor of his school, as one should not be ashamed of doing the work of one’s own school.

The Chief Minister further said that food should be nutritious, seasonal and frugal to maintain health. The aim of setting up kitchen gardens in schools is to provide fresh vegetables to students, he added.