“As and when schools re-open across the State, immediately resume the mid-day meal scheme”: Madras high Court

Madras High Court on Friday directed the State authorities of Tamil Nadu to ensure that as and when schools re-open across the State, the mid-day meal (MDM) scheme is resumed immediately.

The Division Bench of Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee and Justice P.D.Audikesavalu was hearing a matter pertaining to the supply of hot cooked meals to school-going children across the State.

To be noted from March 17, 2020 the beneficiaries of the MDM schemes in Tamil Nadu were being supplied dry rations including rice, pulses and eggs once in 15 days since anganwadis were closed.

During the present hearing, court noted that the curbs imposed during the second surge of the pandemic have been considerably eased over the recent weeks, and accordingly, the supply of hot cooked meals has resumed too.

Court also took note of a letter issued by the Department of Integrated Child Development Services on September 24, 2021 to the Principal Secretary in the Social Welfare and Women Empowerment Department of the State which stated that the supply of hot cooked meals has resumed.

Court said that it is more than likely that schools may re-open in the next few weeks, therefore, court directed the respondent authorities should ensure that as and when schools re-open across the State, the mid-day meal scheme is resumed immediately.

Court added that in addition to the resumption of the mid-day meal scheme, it is now possible for making hot cooked meals available to all school-going children in the rural area, whether by opening the local Anganwadi Centres or by taking other appropriate measures at the local level.

“The State has assured the court that every effort will be made to ensure that the programme is resumed as it was immediately prior to the lockdown of March, 2020, as and when schools re-open and even prior to such time, to the extent practicable,” Court further noted.

Thus, with the abovesaid directions, the matter has been listed to be next heard on October 22, 2021.

It is mentionable here that as per the government data, in the year 2018-19, MDM scheme served about 9.17 crore children in 11.35 lakh schools across the country. However, the scheme faced massive challenges, when the COVID-19 lockdown was announced and schools and Anganwadis were shut down.

Case Title: M/S.Citizen Consumer and Civic Action Group Vs Union of India and 5 Others.