The meeting was not limited to school meals. The unions also raised concerns about teachers who are required to take the special Teacher Eligibility Test, or TET, following a Supreme Court order.
They sought relief for affected teachers and raised the issue of equal pay for secondary grade teachers.
More funds for school maintenance were also sought.
The demands cover several areas of school education, from teachers’ salaries and examinations to infrastructure and student welfare.
The minister’s response means the issues are now being examined by the relevant departments, although it remains unclear which demands will receive immediate approval.
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Tamil Nadu’s long history of school meals
Tamil Nadu has a long history of using school meals as a way to support children’s nutrition and encourage school attendance.
Kamarajar introduced a school meal programme in the state in 1956. Over the years, successive governments changed and expanded the programme by adding new food items and increasing its reach.
The state’s approach later became an example often discussed in connection with school nutrition programmes in India.
The breakfast scheme added another layer to this system in 2022. Its aim was to ensure that children, particularly those in primary classes, did not begin their school day without food.
The expansion of these schemes has also linked education policy with wider welfare goals.
For many families, school meals can reduce the daily cost of feeding children while ensuring that students receive at least some nutritious food during school hours.
As of now, there is no confirmed date for chicken biryani to be included in government school meal plan.
The proposal is still being examined by the Tamil Nadu government and will need discussions between the departments concerned before a final decision can be taken. If approved, the weekly chicken biryani plan would become one of the more noticeable changes to Tamil Nadu’s school meal menu in recent years.
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