Rich-menu school midday meal in disarray

Schools across Kerala are failing to roll out the redesigned midday meal menu as financial constraints and a lack of skilled cooks undermine the project.

- HD Bureau

Despite the government's decision to enrich the menu with egg-based dishes and varied rice options, many institutions are reverting to the older, simpler menu or skipping planned items. In several districts, head teachers report spending personal funds to keep the meal scheme afloat. In one typical case from Kozhikode, schools for 100 students incur a cost of at least ₹13,000 for 20 days' meals. When factoring in gas, transport and support wages, the total can exceed ₹25, 000-well beyond the central and state allocations.