Around 32 per cent students shun mid-day meals in Telangana schools

It was uncovered in the Programme Approval Board (PAB) meeting of the PM-POSHAN (mid-day meal) for the year 2024-25 by the Union Ministry of Education

Hyderabad: In an alarming trend, around 32 per cent of students were found to be staying away from the mid-day meals served in their government and local body schools in the State.

This has been uncovered in the Programme Approval Board (PAB) meeting of the PM-POSHAN (mid-day meal) for the year 2024-25 by the Union Ministry of Education.

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While 11,96,559 students were enrolled in primary schools, the scheme was approved for 11,24,244 and an average 69 per cent students took the meals out of the total enrolled during the academic year 2023-24.

Similarly, out of 6,92,429 upper primary enrollment the scheme was approved for 5,44,348 and an average 68 per cent availed the meals out of the total enrolled.

During the meeting, Department of School Education and Literacy Secretary and PAB Chairman, Sanjay Kumar observed that the average coverage of students under the PM POSHAN scheme decreased by about 3.71 lakh students from 2022-23 to 2023-24, and termed this alarming.

The report highlighted coverage of less than 60 per cent of enrolled students in districts of Hyderabad and Mulugu, in primary classes, and Hyderabad, Pedapalli, Macherial, Bhadradri and Medchal in upper primary classes.

The State was asked to identify the reasons for low coverage and take corrective measures.

Students carrying their own lunch boxes from home is said to be one of the reasons for low mid-day meal coverage. According to a school headmaster, students at times find the food too tangy for their taste and unappealing, prompting them to carry their lunch boxes.

Health issues also play a significant role in this trend. “Some parents pack lunch boxes for their wards as they think that home-cooked food is healthier than the mid-day meal served in the schools.

Some students carry a curry from home and consume it along with the mid-day, giving them one more food variety,” said a headmaster.

Meanwhile, Telangana Gazetted Headmasters’ Association urged the State government to implement a common menu for all government and welfare residential schools.

“We have been asking for cooking supplies through tendering process as being done in the KGBVs and welfare residential schools. The government must enhance the cooking cost per child in the government schools on par with students in the KGBVs and welfare schools,” said P Raja Bhanu Chandra Prakash, president Telangana Gazetted Headmasters’ Association.