All primary school students in TN to get free breakfast

Chennai, April 24 :In a move to promote nutrition and education among young children, the Tamil Nadu school education department has announced plans to appoint coordinators for extending the free breakfast scheme to all primary schools in the state.

The free breakfast scheme, which was launched in 2016, is currently available in around 36,000 government and government-aided schools in the state. Under the scheme, students receive a nutritious breakfast consisting of items such as idli, dosa, pongal, and upma. The scheme has been highly successful in improving attendance and academic performance among children from economically weaker backgrounds.

In a statement, the education department announced that the appointment of coordinators for the free breakfast scheme will be made in the coming weeks. These coordinators will be responsible for ensuring that the scheme is implemented effectively in all primary schools in the state. They will also monitor the quality and quantity of food provided to the students and work towards improving the menu as per the local tastes and preferences.

The coordinators will be appointed on a contractual basis for a period of one year and will be paid a monthly salary of Rs 10,000. They will be required to visit schools regularly, interact with students, teachers, and parents, and ensure that the scheme is being implemented as per the guidelines issued by the department.

The education department has also issued a circular to all district education officers, asking them to identify suitable candidates for the post of coordinators. The circular states that preference will be given to candidates with a background in nutrition or food technology. The candidates should also have a good understanding of the local language and customs.

This move by the Tamil Nadu government has been widely appreciated by educationists and child welfare activists. It is expected that the appointment of coordinators will ensure that the free breakfast scheme reaches all primary schools in the state and benefits a larger number of children. With the right kind of support and monitoring, this scheme has the potential to become a model for other states in India to follow.

Source: IANS