Chicken biryani for midday meal in Tamil Nadu schools? ‘Even an inmate in jail gets…’ — as CM Vijay said | Today’s news
The Tamil Nadu government has reiterated its plan to offer chicken biriyani at mid-day in government schools after a pilot phase. Education Minister Rajmohan Arumugam is reported to have said hygiene, food safety and logistics will decide any wider rollout.
According to news agency PTI, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay will launch the extension of the Perunthalaivar Kamarajar Breakfast program for students of classes VI to VIII on September 22.
Pilot project
Sharing details, Minister Rajmohan Arumugam said a menu innovation is on the cards and hinted at non-vegetarian options like chicken biryani. He said the proposal is the wish of the chief minister, reports India Today.
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The introduction of chicken biryani in midday meals aims to improve the nutritional offer for students, capitalize on the demand for more diverse food options, while addressing hygiene and food safety issues.
A pilot project is necessary to assess hygiene, food safety and logistics before determining the feasibility of a wider introduction of chicken biryani in school meals.
The government plans to introduce strict hygiene standards and conduct a first pilot project to evaluate food safety measures before expanding the chicken biryani initiative.
Minister Rajmohan Arumugam pointed out that even inmates in prisons are given chicken biryani and emphasized that students should also have access to this food as long as safety and hygiene standards are met.
While the introduction of non-vegetarian options such as chicken biryani may raise concerns, the government insists on prioritizing food safety and hygiene and ensuring that all changes are thoroughly evaluated.
It was quoted that the state government wants all school students to have the option of chicken biriyani, but stressed that it cannot be implemented immediately as measures must first be taken to ensure hygiene and food safety.
He said providing non-vegetarian options like chicken biryani to students would be explored as a long-term goal, subject to a pilot project and strict hygiene norms.
“With all due respect, even inmates in jail have chicken biriyani. Can’t our students have it too?” the minister was quoted as saying by PTI.
He added that the government will first conduct a pilot project and assess the measures before expanding the initiative.
“It cannot be implemented immediately as it has to be done in hygienic conditions. There has to be a pilot and test project. We will ensure that school students have chicken biriyani in schools in the coming days,” Rajmohan said, according to India Today.
It was announced last week that the expanded scheme will benefit about 15.30 lakh additional students studying from VI to VIII standards in 15,454 government and aided schools.
Additional fund ₹217.63 million has been allocated in the current financial year to support enlargement, bringing the total budget for this program to ₹724 million.
The decision to launch the expanded program on September 22 was taken during a review meeting chaired by Vijay at the secretariat here.
The plan was originally supposed to be launched on September 17 and was postponed due to Vijay’s official investment visit to London.
It will not be implemented in Chengalpattu and Tiruppur districts due to enforcement of the Election Commission’s model code of conduct for by-constituencies on October 6 in Madurantakam and Dharapuram constituencies.
So far, the menu includes nutritious staples like Uppama, Kitchadi and Pongal, while twice a week it includes millet-based options, news agency PTI reported on September 18.
(With input from agencies)
