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The PM further stated that the initiative would be helpful in inculcating healthy lifestyle habits right from childhood, and stressed on the importance of a fit India.
PM Narendra Modi (Image: Narendra Modi/X)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday hailed the Central Board of Secondary Education’s (CBSE) decision to install sugar boards across all its affiliated schools, reported ANI. “You must have seen blackboards in schools, but now sugar boards are also being installed in some schools – not blackboard, but sugar board,” the Prime Minister said during the 122nd episode of his monthly ‘Mann Ki Baat’.
The initiative aims to make children aware of their sugar intake and help them to choose healthy options, he added. “By understanding how much sugar should be consumed and how much sugar is being consumed, children have started choosing healthy options themselves” PM Modi said.
PM Modi further stated that the initiative will help students inculcate healthy lifestyle habits right from childhood, the report added. “This is a unique effort and its impact will also be very positive. It can prove to be very helpful in inculcating healthy lifestyle habits from childhood,” he said.
“Many parents have appreciated it and I believe that such initiatives should also be taken in offices, canteens and institutions. After all, if there is health, there is everything. Fit India is the foundation of a strong India,” the Prime Minster said.
CBSE introduced ‘Sugar Boards’ in schools to address the growing concerns of Type 2 diabetes among students, linked to high sugar consumption. Following recommendations from the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR), CBSE has mandated all affiliated schools to install these boards by July 15, 2025.
This initiative is in response to the increasing number of children diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, a condition historically seen in adults, along with obesity and other health issues related to excessive sugar intake.
The ‘Sugar Boards’ aim to visually show the sugar content in commonly consumed snacks and drinks, comparing it to the recommended daily intake. These boards will provide information on the recommended daily sugar intake, sugar content in popular junk foods and beverages, the health risks of high sugar consumption, and healthier food alternatives.
“Over the past decade, there has been a significant increase in Type 2 diabetes among children, largely due to the easy availability of sugary snacks, beverages and processed foods within school environments,” the CBSE stated earlier.
Affiliated schools have also been directed to organise awareness seminars or workshops for students to promote healthy dietary choices.
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