美国有线新闻 CNN 2013-07-24

 Time for school for these young students. In a ramshackle hut  behind them, a makeshift kitchen where lunch is being cooked. 

 

These kids really like the food. They always say when I'm not here they ate my food, Gita Devi said. 

 

Here in Bihar in this poorest state, 95% of the free lunches served in government schools come from individual kitchens like this. Rices are provided by the government. This school is also given a sypherd of 5-8 cents per student for their remaining course. 12.5 million children in some 70,000 schools are fed across the state of Bihar every day in this way. The facilities are basic but Devi said quality is not compromised.

 

We are as hygienic as possible when we prepare the meals for these children. After all, we eat the same food, Gita Devi says.

 

For many of the children it’s the best part of their day. 

 

I asked this boy what he loved about the school? The food, he says.

 

Most here come from impoverished¹ background. Books and uniforms are provided by the government. Food and lodge² are free. But the infrastructure³ is lacking. 

 

It's about 40 degrees C or 100 Farenheit but there is no fan here, no electricity, no tables or chairs, no playground and no bathroom. 

 

It hasn't stopped school attendance from increasing though.

 

There is a 20% increase. 

 

Attendance has risen by 10 to 20% because of the mid-day meal thing, this school teacher says. Getting more children to go to school has been the Indian government's priority and the impact is long term.

 

There is a inter-sexually blends in people from all communities, all caste, … , this get-together⁴, and they have meal at the same place, … the feeling of community and harmony and they are pushing the harmony at a very young age.

 

Officials admit the recent case st of mass poisoning in Dihar has undoubtedly⁵ had an impact on one of India's biggest success ories. But the broader benefits of the world's largest school feeding program, they say, should not be questioned. 

1 impoverished   

adj.穷困的，无力的，用尽了的v.使（某人）贫穷( impoverish的过去式和过去分词 )；使（某物）贫瘠或恶化

参考例句：

• the impoverished areas of the city 这个城市的贫民区
• They were impoverished by a prolonged spell of unemployment. 他们因长期失业而一贫如洗。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 lodge   

v.临时住宿，寄宿，寄存，容纳；n.传达室，小旅馆

参考例句：

• Is there anywhere that I can lodge in the village tonight?村里有我今晚过夜的地方吗？
• I shall lodge at the inn for two nights.我要在这家小店住两个晚上。

3 infrastructure   

n.下部构造，下部组织，基础结构，基础设施

参考例句：

• We should step up the development of infrastructure for research.加强科学基础设施建设。
• We should strengthen cultural infrastructure and boost various types of popular culture.加强文化基础设施建设，发展各类群众文化。

4 get-together   

n.(使)聚集；(使)集合

参考例句：

• Well,Miss Huang,we are planning to have a casual get-together.嗯，黄小姐，我们打算大家小聚一番。
• Will you help me prepare for the get- together of the old classmates?你能否帮我为这次老同学聚会做好准备工作？

5 undoubtedly   

adv.确实地，无疑地

参考例句：

• It is undoubtedly she who has said that.这话明明是她说的。
• He is undoubtedly the pride of China.毫无疑问他是中国的骄傲。