Hyderabad Schools Reopen with Launch of Government School Breakfast Scheme
Schools in Hyderabad reopened after a 52-day summer break, introducing a new breakfast scheme for government school students. While the initial turnout was impacted by local observances, there is a push to expand the program statewide and provide promised supplies.
Highlights
- •The Telangana government launched a breakfast scheme across 45 government schools in Hyderabad.
- •Approximately 6,000 students were served meals like idli and puri on the reopening day.
- •The initiative is planned to cover over 1.44 lakh students in the first phase.
- •Teachers are calling for the program to be expanded to all 19 lakh government students.
Schools in Hyderabad have officially reopened following a 52-day summer break. As students returned to their classrooms on Monday, a notable new government school breakfast scheme was introduced to support nutrition for young learners. This initiative, launched by the Telangana state government, aims to ensure that students begin their academic day with a healthy meal, preventing the common issue of children arriving at school hungry.
Rollout of the Breakfast Initiative
The government school breakfast scheme was inaugurated by the Transport and BC welfare minister, Ponnam Prabhakar, during a ceremony held at the Government High School in Raj Bhavan. In this initial rollout, approximately 6,000 students across 45 designated government schools in Hyderabad received a freshly prepared morning meal. The meals were provided through the Manna Trust, which has been tasked with the logistical operations of ensuring consistent food delivery to the participating institutions.
While the first phase is set to benefit 1,44,610 students across 1,302 educational institutions, including 1,269 schools and 33 junior colleges across the state, the initial turnout on the first day was somewhat lower than total enrollment figures. School officials noted that many students remained absent, partially due to the reopening date coinciding with Amavasya. For those who did attend, the menu offered a choice between idli with sambar or puri paired with a mixed vegetable kurma, a gesture that was warmly received by both students and their families.
Future Expansion and Requirements
The introduction of the government school breakfast scheme has drawn praise from the teaching community, though there is a strong call for rapid scaling. Chava Ravi, the state president of the Telangana State United Teachers’ Federation (TSUTF), emphasized that while the initiative is a positive step forward, it should not be confined to a select group of districts. He urged the authorities to extend the program to cover all 19 lakh students enrolled in government schools across the state.
In addition to the nutritional support, there is anticipation regarding the delivery of other promised supplies. Although textbooks and notebooks were distributed on the reopening day, students and teachers are still waiting for the arrival of new uniforms, shoes, socks, belts, ties, and bags. These items are part of the state’s centralized procurement strategy, with the government planning to have self-help groups manage the stitching of uniforms once the fabric is provided. Stakeholders are hoping for an expedited supply chain to ensure that all basic resources are made available to the students as soon as possible.
