Vijay’s Tamil Nadu Govt Wants Weekly Chicken Biryani For Mid-Day Meal? Proposal On Cards
Vijay’s Tamil Nadu Govt Wants Weekly Chicken Biryani For Mid-Day Meal? Proposal On Cards Published By, Last Updated: July 30, 2026, 11:02 IST If approved
Vijay’s Tamil Nadu Govt Wants Weekly Chicken Biryani For Mid-Day Meal? Proposal On Cards Published By, Last Updated: July 30, 2026, 11:02 IST If approved, the weekly serving of chicken biryani would mark one of the biggest menu changes to the state's flagship nutrition programme in recent years. Rapid Read A proposal to introduce chicken biryani once a week under the Mid-Day Meal scheme is under Tamil Nadu CM Vijay's consideration Tamil Nadu Mid-Day Meal: Chief Minister C Jospeh Vijay-led Tamil Nadu government is a proposal to serve chicken biryani once a week to students studying in government schools under the state’s noon-meal scheme. State School Education Minister A Rajmohan said that the proposal has been submitted to the Chief Minister, who is currently reviewing it. Speaking about the proposal, Rajmohan said every major political era in the state had strengthened the school nutrition programme in its own way. Read More: What’s On Mid-Day Meal Menu?
Karnataka Peels Bananas, Tamil Nadu Plates Biryani, Bengal Cracks Eggs “The Justice Party introduced free meals, Kamaraj expanded it into the Mid-Day Meal Scheme, Karunanidhi added eggs, M.G. Ramachandran transformed it into the Nutritious Meal Programme, and Jayalalithaa further expanded egg distribution. Likewise, I have expressed my wish to introduce chicken biryani once a week," the state minister said as quoted by news agency PTI. Officials said the proposal remains at the conceptual stage and no final decision has been taken. Rajmohan also said the government is looking to revamp the breakfast menu under the Perunthalaivar Kamarajar Breakfast Scheme by replacing repetitive items such as wheat and rava upma with more nutritious and appealing options. The current breakfast allocation is around Rs 15 per student. Tamil Nadu has long been regarded as a pioneer in school nutrition programmes. The Mid-Day Meal Scheme, first expanded statewide under former Chief Minister K Kamaraj, has been strengthened over the decades by successive governments through additions such as eggs, bananas for vegetarian students, variety rice and, more recently, the school breakfast programme.
If approved, the weekly serving of chicken biryani would mark one of the biggest menu changes to the state’s flagship nutrition programme in recent years, continuing Tamil Nadu’s tradition of using school meals to improve child nutrition, attendance and learning outcomes. Meanwhile, West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Wednesday sought to end the row over the alleged removal of eggs from mid-day meals in Kolkata schools. He said the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) will supply protein-rich meals, while eggs will be given separately through self-help groups (SHGs). “From August 1, as a pilot project, ‘satvik’ and protein-rich mid-day meals will be provided to children by ISKCON in large parts of Kolkata. Along with that, eggs will be provided to children through SHGs so that we can provide protein-rich meals to our future generations," Mr. Adhikari said, while speaking with reporters in the state’s capital. (With inputs from agencies) News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit About the Author Shobhit Gupta Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news.
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