a day ago
47 Tamil medium students now will be part of midday meal scheme in Idukki
As many as 47 upper primary (UP) Tamil medium students of the Udumbanchola Government High School in Idukki will now be part of the midday meal scheme.
According to officials, a lower primary Tamil medium school began in the tea plantation sector of Udumbanchola in 1999. The State government upgraded this school to a high school in the 2011-12 academic year. However, the upper primary section of the school was functioning here without a government approval. Therefore, the UP students were not eligible for the midday meal scheme or other government assistance.
In February 2024, the headteacher of the school submitted an application to the Food Commission, requesting to include the upper primary students in the midday meal scheme. Based on this request, the Food Commission asked the Deputy Director of Education in Idukki to provide a report, which recommended to include the students in the scheme.
Order issued
The Food Commission had in November 2024 directed the State government to take steps to include the students in the scheme. The Director of General Education was recently issued an order to include the students in the scheme.
State Food Commission Chairperson Ginu Zacharia Oommen said that the 47 upper primary students belong to the plantation sector and are from low-income families. 'The Commission had asked the State government to consider this a special case and to include the students in the midday meal scheme,' said Dr. Oommen. The midday meal scheme will be helpful to the students as well as their parents,' he added.
According to officials, only students in government approved schools are eligible for the midday meal scheme (officially known as PM-POSHAN), a Centrally-sponsored scheme.
