Telangana Education Commission proposes major overhaul of midday meal scheme to improve food quality

The midday meal scheme in Telangana is facing significant challenges related to hygiene, finances, and logistics, with meal unit rates far below current market prices.

The Telangana Education Commission, after studying the issue, has recommended revisions to improve food quality and safety in government schools.

Currently, the cost per meal, including eggs, is ₹8.69 for students in classes 1 to 5 and ₹11.79 for those in classes 6 to 10.

The Commission has proposed increasing these rates to ₹13.45 (a 54.78% increase) for classes 1 to 5, ₹18.60 (a 57.76% increase) for classes 6 to 8, and ₹19.14 (a 62.34% increase) for classes 9 and 10.

These adjustments, along with an upgraded menu, would require a revised budget of ₹151 crore.

Additionally, the Commission has suggested expanding the scheme to include intermediate students, which would add an extra ₹39 crore, bringing the total financial requirement to approximately ₹190 crore.

Payment delays to school management, with outstanding bills ranging from two months to a year, are among the Commission's main concerns.

Self-help group (SHG) members who serve as cooks in government schools have been forced to deviate from the recommended menu due to insufficient unit rates and delayed disbursements.

According to the recommendation report, many cooks are purchasing supplies on credit from nearby store owners, who are exploiting their financial vulnerability by inflating prices.

Between November and December 2024, the chairperson and three members of the Commission conducted a field survey that covered government schools, residential schools, hostels, model schools, KGBVs, and Anganwadi centers in all 33 districts.

The findings revealed that a significant number of government schools lack adequate cooking facilities, forcing food preparation to occur outside, beneath trees, in classrooms, near restrooms, or in small sheds.

Students may be at risk for health problems due to the high potential for food contamination in such conditions.

Other issues identified include the use of substandard rice, outdated utensils, a lack of clean drinking water, and insufficient storage and warehousing facilities.

Even with a prescribed menu, maintaining consistency in execution remains a challenge. The report outlines that the midday meal should include fine rice (sanna biyyam), vegetable curry, pappu charu (made with kandi pappu), four servings of eggs per week, and twice-weekly fruits like bananas.

The Commission suggests that before any meal is served to students, a designated teacher, cook, and parent should taste it.

The payment system for SHG members under the scheme has also been criticized as outdated and cumbersome.

The Commission recommends switching to an online payment system to replace the current multi-tiered approach.

Additionally, transaction-based software should be implemented, along with a weekly billing system that generates payslips for SHG members, ensuring accurate and timely disbursement of wages.

Nutritional deficiencies and inconsistent meal offerings were observed in residential schools and hostels.

The Commission has suggested a standardized menu for all institutions, including Gurukuls, KGBVs, model schools, PWD schools, and hostels.

While mess fees in residential institutions are considered adequate, the research emphasizes the need for stringent oversight to ensure adherence to nutritional guidelines and the prescribed menu.