Tamil Nadu minister proposes chicken biryani in school breakfast scheme
Education Minister A. Rajmohan said the state may test chicken biryani and other non-vegetarian dishes in its school breakfast program, pending a pilot and hygiene checks.
Tamil Nadu’s school breakfast initiative is preparing to widen its reach to middle-school pupils, with the launch scheduled for September 22 by Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay. Education Minister A. Rajmohan revealed that the government is considering non-vegetarian options, such as chicken biryani, as part of a menu revamp, but stressed that any change will follow a pilot scheme and rigorous hygiene testing. A dedicated committee has been tasked with evaluating diverse, appealing meals.
The expansion will serve roughly 15.30 lakh more children and includes an additional ₹217.63 crore for one outlet fiscal year, raising the programme’s total funding to ₹724 crore. Meals will be prepared in the Greater Chennai Corporation’s integrated kitchens across 447 schools, with self-help groups handling cooking and service. The scheme will not operate in Chengalpattu and Tiruppur districts because of the Election Commission’s model code of conduct for upcoming by-polls.
Why it matters
The proposal could change school nutrition standards for millions of Tamil Nadu children, sparking debate over diet and public health policy.
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