Breakfast program brings more students to schools in Telangana

A simple breakfast can bring remarkable changes to the lives of schoolchildren. It may seem unbelievable that a single meal could make schooling more attractive, especially in rural areas. In government schools in Telangana, this simple intervention helps make the classroom a more welcoming place for children.

Increased enrolment, increased attendance, no complaints of hunger and more energy among students during the day were some of the key factors that emerged as focal points in Telangana schools after the introduction of the breakfast program this academic year.

On 15 June 2026, Telangana launched a new and restructured breakfast program for students from pre-primary to intermediate, as assured earlier by Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy. Its first phase included 1,302 institutions, of which 1,269 are schools and 33 junior colleges, benefiting around 1.45 million students. The program will gradually be extended to all schools.

However, a survey of the program in government schools across Telangana’s Kodangal constituency, represented by the Chief Minister, has yielded positive feedback from parents, students and teachers who say there is a marked change in the school environment itself.

The performance and impact assessment report, prepared by Third Vision Research and Services, covered 575 parents, 1,153 students and 176 teachers and principals. Implemented by the Hare Krishna Charitable Foundation through a centralized kitchen, the program provides breakfast and milk to government primary and secondary school students.

According to the report, enrollment increased by 13% compared to the previous academic year in 60 schools – 30 primary schools and 30 secondary schools. The increase was 1,525 students, of which 882 were boys and 643 were girls.

The survey also reported a 20-22% increase in student attendance based on stakeholder feedback. While 89.2% of teachers and school principals reported an improvement in attendance, 92.8% of parents said they wanted their children to attend school more regularly.

Findings indicated strong acceptance of the breakfast program among students. As many as 99.9% of respondents said they ate breakfast at school, while 86.4% said they went to school every day. All students interviewed reported that milk was provided every other day.

The program also appears to address concerns about hunger during school hours. About 98.3% of teachers and school principals reported fewer complaints of hunger among students, while 89.2% reported that students came to school on time more often.

Teachers also reported improvements in other aspects of student well-being. Almost 89.2% observed a reduction in morning sickness, 88.1% reported that students were more energetic, and 83% reported increased participation. Improvements in academic interest and concentration were reported by 81.2% and 76.1% of teachers, respectively.

High acceptance, room for improvement

Parents expressed considerable satisfaction with the program, 95.7% of them rated the breakfast as good or very good. About 96.2% said they would recommend the government schools to others, according to Naganna of Third Vision Research and Services, which conducted the survey.

Student feedback showed that 91.3% rated the taste of the food as good or better, while 92.7% gave a similar rating to the quality of the food. Freshness received a positive rating from 95.9% of students and 92.3% rated cleanliness positively. However, satisfaction with quantity was relatively lower at 84.6%.

Favorite tiffins

Bonda and chutney emerged as the most popular breakfast item preferred by 98.1% students, followed by dosa and chutney at 95.3% and millet idli with sambar at 93.6%. Upma and chutney were among the least popular items listed, with 75% of students saying they liked it or ate it. Almost 29.2% of students suggested adding a flaw to the menu.

Teacher feedback pointed to differences in satisfaction across operational aspects. While 98.9% said the program ran smoothly and 97.7% said breakfast was served on time. The taste received a favorable evaluation from 76.5% of the teachers, while the quantity was positively evaluated by 76.7%.

Improvement needed

Food quality accounted for 43.6% of improvement mentions recorded in the survey. Other concerns included serving equipment, plates and storage equipment, which together were among the issues raised by respondents. The report recommended greater consistency in the preparation and control of oil use.

The report also found that 90.8% of parents knew that Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy had launched the scheme, compared to 74% of students surveyed.

Published – October 10, 2026 0:51 AM IST