The Mid Day Meal Scheme is famous across the country. What started as a novel scheme in government elementary schools in Tamil Nadu in 1962–63 has now spread across the country. As per an estimate, about 120 million children in as many as 1.30 million schools are deriving the benefit of various Midday Meal Schemes every day.
How about a breakfast scheme to further improve the general nutritional health and educational outcomes of poor children? Something of the sort is happening with the support of a pharma company in Andhra Pradesh's Kakinada. This is not a government scheme, but a CSR initiative that is positively impacting as many as 5,000 school children.
As per a TNIE report, the nutritional breakfast initiative in U Kothapalli and Thondangi mandals in the Kakinada district has resulted in improved attendance in the past 3-4 months. The initiative is managed by Hare Krishna Movement Charitable Trust (HKMCT). The funding has been done by the Aurobindo Pharma Foundation.
Just this pilot project is costing Rs 10 Cr. Imagine the requirement of funds if such a scheme has to be scaled up throughout the State by the government! Perhaps, its unsustainability is what has prevented the governments from undertaking such an initiative.
