Hot Meal Scheme for Kindergartens

The government allocated 7,000 billion rials ($175 million) for implementation of the State Welfare Organization’s program to fight child malnutrition last year (ended in March), said Habibollah Masoudi Farid, social deputy at the SWO.

The scheme for kindergartens started in 2006 in many rural regions with one hot meal per day; however, all kindergartens have not been covered yet.

Malnutrition is responsible for one-fifth of diseases across the world. It is estimated to contribute to more than a quarter of all child deaths, although it is rarely listed as the direct cause, IRNA reported.

Based on studies conducted so far in the country, the hot meal program has contributed to preventing malnutrition-related diseases by 50% in the regions covered. Currently, there are 7,500 kindergartens in the rural areas and 1,200-1,300 in fringe areas of cities.