By Hiralal Gaund
On the 6th of August 2019 a nutrition garden was established through the Using Diversity project adjoining the hand pump of the Primary School of Jilang village. The run off from the hand pump would help provide necessary water for growing a variety of uncultivated and traditional leafy vegetables in a plot adjoining the hand pump. The Self Help Group responsible for preparing the mid-day meal for the school children has taken responsibility of managing and caring for the nutrition a garden. A variety of leafy vegetables were planted in the nutrition garden and they included – Koinjari bhaji, Kuchar Bhaji, Dove Bhaji, Pudina, and Raiti Bhaji.
The waste water from the hand pump would ensure the survival of these plants even in the summer months. The leafy vegetables from the nutrition garden would be used by the members of the SHG for the students’ mid-day meal. This would help the SHG reduce expenses on market bought vegetables and the children would benefit from fresh nutrition and protein rich organic leafy vegetables. The Guruji (Head Teacher) and members of the SHG responsible for cooking were very happy with this initiative and the head teacher felt that such nutrition gardens should be established around all school hand pumps in the area.
