On July 4, Uttar Pradesh began giving fruits once a week as part of mid-day meal at school. As most children come to government schools without any breakfast, the fruits are to be given early morning, on the first working day of a week (usually a Monday). Apart from providing children nutrition, the fruits are expected to boost attendance, that dips following every break. 1 Were you aware that you will get a fruit in school today? No. Ma’am gave me a mango and said we would now get fruits every Monday. I love fruits. 2 Would you take the fruit given to you home or eat it in school? I will eat it in school itself, otherwise I will have to share it with my younger sister at home. 3 Is the attendance in school low on a Monday? Yes. Sunday ko khelte khelte thak jaate hain, ya kabhi kabhi gaon chale jate hain to lautne mein der ho jati hai. Isliye somwar ko nahin aate (We play a lot on Sundays and hence get tired, or we go to the village on Sunday and are not back on time. So we don’t come to school on Monday). 4 Which is your favourite fruit, and how often do you get to have it? I like mangoes and apples. My father often bring fruits home, par mummy to sab khud hi baahar se kha ke aa jati hai (but mummy eats all she wants by herself before coming home). Not just mangoes, also chowmein and ice-cream. She works in a halwai shop. 5 What do you like about school? What else do you wish your school had. tables, chairs? The ma’am is good, aur padhai to zameen pe let kar bhi kar sakte hain (and we can study even lying down), like we do at home. But I wish we could get cake and ice-cream in school. Our school celebrates birthdays on the last working day of the month, where we cut cakes and decorate the class (Ayushi’s birthday is on August 6).
