The General Education Department’s directive to make the revised mid-day meal menu mandatory from September 1 is facing delays. Meanwhile, the new Anganwadi menu, which features items ranging from Nutri Laddu to Egg Biryani, is set to be inaugurated on Tuesday. However, even with the launch, full implementation of the new Anganwadi menu will be delayed.
Although the minister announced the decision to revise the menu at the start of the academic year, citing children's health and preferences, there is still little clarity in many places. Inconsistencies with funding and food preparation have prevented implementation in several schools, even after they reopened following the Onam break.
While some districts have introduced dishes such as fried rice, lemon rice, and vegetable biryani on a trial basis, most schools are providing the old menu. The new menu has yet to be uploaded to the department’s website, a relief for many teachers who can continue submitting information as before. Although the cooking staff received training during the holidays to prepare the new dishes, some teachers have expressed concern about how practical the changes will be.
Under the new plan, one of the following dishes must be prepared once a week using the fortified rice currently available in schools: vegetable fried rice, lemon rice, vegetable biryani, tomato rice, or coconut rice. These should be served with a vegetable curry or kuruma. On other days, rice should continue to be served with curry and thoran. Chicken should also be served if possible. The department has also suggested that the menu be presented to a parents’ committee to ensure it is being implemented.
ETK Ismail, general secretary of the Kerala Government Primary School Headmasters Association, questioned whether fried rice and lemon rice would actually help prevent anaemia and obesity, which is the stated aim of the revision.
Currently, the central and state government contributions to the school mid-day meal scheme amount to ₹6.78 and ₹10.17 per child in the pre-primary, primary, and upper primary categories, respectively. The government also provides free rice and the cook’s salary. However, teachers say that if funds from the state government are not enough to cover other costs, a school with 100 students would need to spend at least ₹8,000 a month to meet the new menu's requirements.
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