Tamil Nadu’s Breakfast scheme

• The Tamil Nadu government’s launch of the free breakfast scheme for school children is an instance of a policy initiative with far-reaching consequences for school education and public health.

Not a freebie

• This provision of free breakfast is allegedly not a freebie, but the foremost duty of a government to ensure no child goes hungry.
• Based on the Dravidian model - promises inclusive growth for all segments of the population.
• Government’s target
• Providing school children an average of 293 calories and an average protein input of 9.85 gm per day.

Importance of a daily breakfast

• Multiple studies indicate that eating breakfast regularly confers positive outcomes on students increasing their focus and learning.
• School performance, behaviour and cognition improves
• A regular breakfast also takes care of diet quality, micronutrient sufficiency, anaemia and height and weight issues in children.
• Also sculpts BMI scores for the future.

Mid-day meal average

• The mid-day meal comes up to an average of 553 calories and 18 gm of protein.
• The Centre’s midday meal guidelines prescribe between 450-700 cals per child per day, and a protein intake of 12-20 gm per day.

Conclusion

• The government must avoid the errors of omission and commission — including pilferage, poor quality of food, delays in sanctioning funds, and caste-related disruptions — that have been hurdles in its path earlier.
• Other State governments would also do well to be inspired by Tamil Nadu, which has allowed its intent to triumph over the state of its finances.