Telangana cuts breakfast portions for government school students
Telangana government’s revised breakfast scheme proposes limited servings such as two idlis or pooris, raising concerns among teachers over student nutrition. The scheme, covering 18.79 lakh students, is set to relaunch from June 12 with a modified menu.
Hyderabad: What was earlier launched as a measure to eliminate hunger and address malnutrition among government school students with a nutritious breakfast has now been reduced to limited servings.
Just two idlis, pooris or bondas have been proposed by the Telangana Congress government as part of its much-touted breakfast scheme for government and local body schools from the forthcoming academic year. This scheme may leave thousands of students with half-empty stomachs and hungry.
The government’s proposed breakfast menu comprises dosa and chutney/chapati and curry on Monday, two millet idlis and sambar on Tuesday, two pooris and aloo kurma on Wednesday, two millet idlis and sambar on Thursday, millet upma or pongal and chutney on Friday and two bondas and chutney on Saturday. In addition, the government has proposed to provide ragi porridge on three days and milk on the other three days of the week.
The scheme, which will be implemented for students from pre-primary up to intermediate level from June 12, has raised questions on whether such small portions can actually satiate the hunger of children. Teacher union leaders argue that the proposed portions would not suffice for high school and intermediate college students who have a higher appetite.
The scheme, as per the government, is expected to cover about 18.79 lakh students and Rs 720 crore has been earmarked as recurring cost. The breakfast scheme is likely to be handed over to an NGO, which is already serving mid-day meals in some districts.
Earlier, to ensure that students do not start their day on an empty stomach, the previous BRS government had launched the Chief Minister’s Breakfast Scheme in October 2023, which not only addressed hunger among students but also helped in increasing attendance significantly.
After commencing in 119 schools, with one school in each Assembly constituency, the then government expanded the scheme to 3,500 schools. It planned to expand further to all 27,147 government and local body schools across the State.
However, after the Congress party came to power in December 2023, the breakfast serving came to a halt due to lack of allocation and release of funds for two academic years. The government has now decided to relaunch the scheme, but with limited servings.
Proposed breakfast menu from academic year 2026-27
– Monday: Dosa- chutney/ chapathi – curry
– Tuesday: Millet idli (2 No’s) – sambar
– Wednesday: Poori (2 No’s) – aloo kurma
– Thursday: Millet idli (2 No’s) – sambar
– Friday: Millet upma/Pongal-chutney
– Saturday: Bonda (2 No’s) – Chutney
– Milk and Ragi Java each thrice a week
Earlier breakfast menu
• Monday: Idli and sambar or wheat rava upma and chutney
• Tuesday: Puri and aloo kurma or tomato bath with sambar
• Wednesday: Upma and sambar or rice rava khichdi and chutney
• Thursday: Millet idli and sambar or pongal and sambar
• Friday: Uggani/poha/millet idli and chutney or wheat rava khichdi and chutney
• Saturday: Pongal and sambar or vegetable pulao with raita or aloo kurma
– Ragi Java thrice a week
