Weekly chicken biryani on menu? CM Vijay eyes big mid-day meal upgrade

The Tamil Nadu government is considering a proposal to introduce chicken biryani once a week for students in government schools under the Mid-Day Meal Scheme, with School Education Minister Rajmohan formally pitching the idea to Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay. While the proposal is under examination, the government has not taken a final decision.

Explaining the rationale behind the move, Rajmohan said every major political leadership in Tamil Nadu had contributed to strengthening the state's school nutrition programme by expanding both its reach and nutritional value. He said he hoped to continue that legacy by introducing a weekly serving of chicken biryani for students.

"Kamarajar launched the Mid-Day Meal Scheme, Kalaignar Karunanidhi added eggs, MGR transformed it into the Nutritious Meal Programme, and Jayalalithaa expanded egg distribution across the week. In the same spirit, I wish to introduce chicken biryani once a week in government schools," the minister said.

According to government sources, the proposal is currently being reviewed by the Chief Minister, though no timeline has been indicated for a decision.

Tamil Nadu has long been regarded as a pioneer in school nutrition initiatives. The Mid-Day Meal Scheme, introduced during the tenure of former Chief Minister K. Kamarajar in the 1950s, was among the earliest large-scale efforts in the country to improve child nutrition while encouraging school enrolment and attendance. Over the decades, successive governments have expanded the programme by improving the quality and diversity of meals served to students.

In September 2022, the then DMK government launched the Chief Minister's Breakfast Scheme for primary school students, later renamed the Perunthalaivar Kamarajar Breakfast Scheme. The initiative complemented the existing mid-day meal programme, ensuring children received nutritious meals both in the morning and at lunchtime.

If approved, the addition of chicken biryani would represent one of the most significant menu changes to the school meal programme in recent years. The proposal is also in line with the state's continued focus on enhancing nutrition among schoolchildren through periodic improvements to welfare schemes.

Rajmohan also indicated that the government is planning a broader overhaul of the breakfast menu. He said the current allocation of around Rs 15 per student would be used more effectively by replacing frequently served items such as wheat upma and rava upma with meals that are more nutritious and appealing to children. The proposed changes, he said, are intended to improve both the nutritional content of the programme and student acceptance of the meals served in government schools.