42 lakh TN school kids to get May quota of dry ration

CHENNAI: To continue the abruptly stopped noonmeal scheme, the state has decided to provide food grains such as rice, dhal, and other provisions for the month of May to more than 42 lakh children studying in state-run schools.

The government order said, “The Union Minister for Human Resources Development during a video Conference with the state Education Ministers on April 24, has announced that in order to safeguard immunity which is very vital during COVID-19 outbreak and to meet the nutritional requirements of the eligible children under midday meal scheme, hot cooked food (or its equivalent pulses, oil and other things) to be provided for the eligible children even during summer vacations.”

According to the order, in pursuant to the instruction issued by the Centre and as appealed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Commissioner of Social Welfare stated that the Centre has reiterated to the state government to extend the mid-day meal during vacation period also owing to COVID-19 emergency.

The Commissioner of Social Welfare has sent a proposal for distribution of dry rations such as rice, dhal, black Bengal gram, green gram to the children under the state’s Puratchi Thaliavar MGR Nutritious

Meal Programme for May 2020.

Accordingly, the state after detailed consideration of the proposal and based on the guidelines of the Centre, accorded permission to provide food grains to 23,71,316 children studying in primary and 18,89,808 children studying in upper primary sections.

As per the proposal, each primary section student will get 3.1 kg of rice and about one kg of dhal and other items for the month of May. Likewise, students in the upper primary section will get 4.6 kg of rice and 1.25 kg of dhal. Children in both categories will also get additional dhal in lieu of Bengal grams.

The state government has directed the authorities of Social Welfare and District Collectors to follow the guidelines for distributing dry ration to the children.

Dry rations such as rice, dhal, black Bengal gram, green gram to the children under the state’s Puratchi Thaliavar MGR Nutritious Meal Programme will be distributed for vacation period too