At these schools, the mid-day meal starts in the soil In Meghalaya, students begin the day by checking on spinach, beans, or mustard leaves they planted themselves. What they grow in the garden ends up on their plates. This simple shift is changing how children eat — and how they learn.

India runs the world’s largest school feeding programme Every day, 12 crore children receive a mid-day meal under the PM POSHAN scheme. But Meghalaya saw an opportunity: What if these meals could be fresher, more diverse — and grown right on campus? By adding nutrition gardens to schools, the state is finding a simple way to boost both learning and nutrition — without needing new infrastructure.

A simple activity that scaled quickly On April 29, 2024, students across Meghalaya marked ‘Bag-less Day’ by starting nutrition gardens. In just one day, the number of schools with gardens rose from 9% to over 40% — with over 3,000 schools joining in. All of it done using existing resources.

What is a school nutrition garden? It’s a space — big or small — where children grow seasonal vegetables: spinach, radish, pumpkin, beans, mustard greens. Even schools without land are using crates, planters, and recycled containers to make it work.

These gardens are now classrooms Students are learning how soil, seasons, and care affect what we eat. Teachers are using the gardens to teach science, math, and environmental awareness. It’s education that connects theory with daily life.

Fresh food, grown and eaten by students The vegetables students grow are added to mid-day meals. This has reduced costs, improved nutrition, and led to fewer leftovers. Children are more likely to eat food they’ve helped grow.

Everyone pitched in to make this work Cooks helped prepare garden beds. Teachers guided planting. Parents and local farmers contributed seeds, fencing, and tools. It’s a community effort — not a top-down programme.

Where things stand now -Over 3,100 schools have active gardens -More than 7 lakh students involved -Around 80% of schools under PM POSHAN now grow some of their own vegetables -The goal: reach 100% by next year

It’s not just about nutrition These gardens are also changing how children see food, health, and effort. They’re learning patience, teamwork, and the value of growing something themselves — skills that stay with them long after school.

A small step that any school can take Meghalaya has shown that it’s possible — without special funding or large land areas. With just a few tools and a bit of care, schools anywhere can grow fresh food, build life skills, and bring learning to life.