📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Michael Gäbler
Food
Tamil Nadu Govt Mulls Adding Weekly Chicken Biryani to School Mid‑Day Meals
✍️ News18
🗓 25 Oct 2026, 02:17 AM
👁 12
The Tamil Nadu government is reportedly reviewing a proposal to serve chicken biryani once a week as part of the state’s mid‑day meal programme for schoolchildren.
The state administration of Tamil Nadu is said to be examining a draft proposal that would introduce chicken biryani on a weekly basis into the existing mid‑day meal scheme for primary and upper‑primary schools. The suggestion, which has surfaced in recent internal discussions, aims to diversify the menu and boost protein intake among children, especially in districts where malnutrition remains a concern.
According to officials familiar with the plan, the biryani would be prepared in school kitchens under the same quality‑control guidelines that govern the current rice‑dal meals. The proposal also calls for a modest increase in per‑child funding to cover the higher cost of poultry and spices, with the additional expense to be sourced from the state’s education budget.
The move has drawn mixed reactions. Nutrition experts have welcomed the idea of adding a protein‑rich option, while some parent groups have raised questions about affordability and the suitability of meat in a scheme traditionally aimed at all children, irrespective of dietary preferences. The department has indicated that a pilot will be launched in a few districts before any statewide rollout.
No official date has been announced for a final decision, and the proposal remains under review by the education and finance ministries.
According to officials familiar with the plan, the biryani would be prepared in school kitchens under the same quality‑control guidelines that govern the current rice‑dal meals. The proposal also calls for a modest increase in per‑child funding to cover the higher cost of poultry and spices, with the additional expense to be sourced from the state’s education budget.
The move has drawn mixed reactions. Nutrition experts have welcomed the idea of adding a protein‑rich option, while some parent groups have raised questions about affordability and the suitability of meat in a scheme traditionally aimed at all children, irrespective of dietary preferences. The department has indicated that a pilot will be launched in a few districts before any statewide rollout.
No official date has been announced for a final decision, and the proposal remains under review by the education and finance ministries.