The Tamil Nadu government is evaluating a proposal to introduce chicken biryani once every week under the Mid-Day Meal Scheme. School Education Minister Rajmohan has presented the idea to Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay for consideration. The proposal aims to improve nutrition while making school meals more appealing for students across government schools. Officials believe a more diverse menu could encourage better attendance and improve children’s overall health. The government has not approved the proposal yet, and discussions continue at the highest level. Authorities are reviewing the financial impact, nutritional benefits, and practical challenges before reaching any conclusion. The proposal has already attracted public attention because Tamil Nadu has consistently led the country in strengthening school nutrition initiatives. If approved, the weekly chicken biryani plan would become another major addition to the state’s long-running welfare programme for schoolchildren and further enhance its nutrition-focused policies.
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Tamil Nadu Weighs Weekly Chicken Biryani for School Mid-Day Meals
Rajmohan said every major political leadership in Tamil Nadu strengthened the state’s school nutrition programme through meaningful reforms. He credited former Chief Minister K. Kamaraja with launching the Mid-Day Meal Scheme during the 1950s. The minister recalled that M. Karunanidhi later expanded the programme by introducing eggs into school meals. Former Chief Minister M.G. Ramachandran further transformed the initiative into the Nutritious Meal Programme with broader objectives. Jayalalithaa also strengthened the scheme by increasing egg distribution throughout the school week. Rajmohan said he now wants to continue this tradition by introducing chicken biryani once every week. He believes the addition would improve nutrition while giving students a meal they genuinely enjoy. The minister emphasized that every government has contributed to the programme’s steady evolution, and he hopes this proposal becomes another milestone in Tamil Nadu’s education and nutrition journey.
Government sources said Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay is carefully examining the proposal before making any final decision. Officials confirmed that discussions remain ongoing and the government has not announced any official approval. Authorities are assessing nutritional standards, implementation costs, supply arrangements, and the feasibility of serving chicken biryani regularly. Tamil Nadu has earned national recognition for its successful school nutrition programmes over several decades. The state’s Mid-Day Meal Scheme has become a model that many other states have studied and adapted. The programme began under K. Kamaraja and gradually expanded through continuous improvements introduced by successive governments. Each administration focused on improving children’s nutrition while encouraging higher school enrollment and attendance. Officials believe any future expansion must maintain the programme’s quality, sustainability, and long-term effectiveness before receiving formal approval from the government.
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CM Vijay Reviews Proposal, Final Decision Still Awaited
Tamil Nadu has consistently expanded its student welfare programmes beyond afternoon meals through several innovative initiatives. In September 2022, the then DMK government launched the Chief Minister’s Breakfast Scheme for primary school students. The programme aimed to provide nutritious morning meals before classroom activities began every school day. Later, the government renamed the initiative as the Perunthalaivar Kamarajar Breakfast Scheme to honor the former Chief Minister. The breakfast programme complements the Mid-Day Meal Scheme by ensuring children receive balanced nutrition throughout the school day. Education experts believe these initiatives improve concentration, classroom participation, and academic performance among young students. The government continues investing in nutrition-based welfare programmes because healthy children learn more effectively. These efforts reflect Tamil Nadu’s long-standing commitment to combining education with public health through well-planned and continuously evolving school meal programmes.
The proposed weekly chicken biryani initiative represents another possible step in Tamil Nadu’s long history of improving school nutrition. The government believes balanced meals play an important role in supporting children’s physical growth and academic development. Officials continue evaluating the proposal while considering financial requirements and operational challenges across thousands of government schools. Parents, educators, and nutrition experts are closely watching the discussions because the decision could influence future school meal policies. If the government approves the proposal, Tamil Nadu could once again introduce a unique enhancement to its celebrated nutrition programme. The initiative would also reinforce the state’s reputation for pioneering innovative welfare schemes benefiting millions of students. Until then, authorities will continue detailed consultations before announcing their final decision on introducing weekly chicken biryani under the Mid-Day Meal Scheme.