Kathmandu, June 3: Two pick-up vans of the Toyota Company, Japan and seven mini-trucks of Tata Company, India, were handed over to His Majesty’s Government, Ministry of Education and Sports on behalf of the World Food Programme (WFP) at a function here the other day.

On the occasion, Minister for Education and Sports Amod Prasad Upadhyaya was handed over the keys of the vehicles.

On the occasion, Minister Upadhyaya gave away prizes to the three students whose art works were adjudged the best among the art works of students from schools where the Primary School Nutrition Project (PSNP) has been implemented. The art by the students were sent to rome.

The World Food Programme has been providing food to the children and targeted groups in Nepal since 2029 B.S. under the primary school nutrition programme.

At present 250,000 students in 12 districts of the country are benefiting from the provision of special tiffin under the programme.

The primary school nutrition project which was implemented under the Social Welfare Council prior to fiscal year 1995/1996 is currently being implemented with the joint investment of His Majesty’s Government and the World Food Programme with the provision of providing day snacks to primary school students in districts facing food shortage and where primary school enrollment is low.

The project term which was earlier fixed for 18 months in fiscal year 1995/1996 was extended to 52 districts in 1997 and the project term was fixed for 52 months.

The programme was extended to Doti, Dadeldhura and Achham districts of the Farwestern Development Region, Rukum and Dailekh districts of the mid-western region, Rupandehi of the Western Development Region and Parsa and Dhanusha of Central Development Region. The project was further extended to Salyanm and Surkhet districts of the Mid-Western Development Region in 1998 and Pyuthan of the Midwestern region and Baitadi district of the farwestern region in 1999. Addressing the programme, Education Minister Upadhyaya appreciated the World Food Programme assistance to Nepal. He expressed the commitment that the assistance would not be allowed to be misused. He said the primary school nutritional programme would encourage people in the remote rural areas of the country to send their children to school. Moreover, it would encourage the children to stay in school and continue their studies, he added.