President Droupadi Murmu today said that the nutritious meals provided to children under the government’s Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Nirman (PM POSHAN) scheme is an investment to the country’s human capital. Addressing an event organised by Akshaya Patra Foundation in New Delhi, President Murmu described children as the foundation of the nation’s demographic dividend and said they will drive India’s growth journey in the years to come.

The President highlighted that several studies have established that the PM POSHAN scheme has led to an increase in children’s enrolment, attendance and retention in schools, along with significant improvement in their learning ability and academic performance.

President Murmu described education as a crucial tool for creating opportunities in an individual’s life, saying it paves the way for success. She noted that the process of empowerment and capacity building begins from the school stage itself, where children gain skills to face daily challenges and become responsible citizens.

Appreciating the Foundation’s efforts in providing mid-day meals in schools, the President said the Central Government is running the world’s largest mid-day meal scheme. President Murmu hailed the scheme as an important step towards building a healthy and strong nation and addressing nutrition barriers in early education.