Key Update 

The Kerala government revised the mid-day meal menu to include nutritious dishes, such as ragi-based items and microgreens, but delayed payments are straining schools’ ability to maintain safe and healthy meals. Schools have not received funds for August and September, leaving head teachers with liabilities running into lakhs of rupees. A school with 600 students requires around ₹1.70 lakh for 20 working days to purchase vegetables, spices, milk, eggs, and cooking gas—ingredients essential for food safety and proper nutrition.

Teachers Struggle to Keep Meals Safe

Earlier, schools received monthly payments on time, allowing smooth procurement of ingredients. Now, traders refuse to extend credit, forcing head teachers to cover costs from their own pockets or take loans. The government has suggested adding microgreens once or twice a month to the mid-day meal and preparing small-grain dishes like ragi balls, ragi kozhukatta, and ragi kheer with minimal jaggery and sugar. While these additions improve nutrition, financial constraints could compromise food safety if schools cannot procure fresh ingredients or maintain proper hygiene standards.

Ensuring Safe and Nutritious Meals

Education authorities emphasise that timely funding is critical to ensure that students receive safe, hygienic, and nutritious meals during the festival season and beyond. Head teachers and officials continue to push for prompt disbursement to protect both health and nutrition standards in school kitchens.

Source: Mathrubhumi