Tamil Nadu considers chicken biriyani in school meal scheme

The Tamil Nadu government led by Chief Minister Joseph Vijay is considering a proposal to introduce chicken biriyani once a week under the state's Nutritious Noon Meal Scheme for students up to senior secondary level. A cabinet committee is studying the proposal, and a decision is expected soon. The plan continues a legacy begun by former chief minister MGR, who expanded the scheme in 1982 despite widespread criticism over cost and logistics.

National Herald India reports that the proposal is the latest chapter in a century-old story of school meals in Tamil Nadu, which began under the Justice Party and was later expanded by K. Kamaraj. MGR's 1982 expansion, costing nearly Rs 150 crore a year, was opposed by economists, bureaucrats, and political rivals, but he pressed ahead, arguing that a hungry child cannot concentrate. The scheme has since been sustained and improved by successive governments, including the introduction of eggs and a free breakfast scheme.

The programme has led to higher school enrolment, better attendance, and lower dropout rates, particularly among girls and first-generation learners. It has also challenged social hierarchies, with children from different castes eating together and women from disadvantaged backgrounds employed as cooks.