Chennai: Tamilnadu Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami today ordered that rice and dhal should be given to students of classes one to eight under the nutritious midday meals (saththunavu) scheme.
Students should be made to come to school and the provisions should be given by following social distancing measures, it is learnt.
It is said the decision was taken after it was getting delayed to deposit cash in bank accounts. The government has asked the teachers to ensure that the students wear mask and follow social distancing when they come to collect the provisions.
As many as 42.61 lakh students are benefitted by the mid-day meal scheme across the State, one of the flagship projects of Tamilnadu government. However, there were reports that many poor children, who had benefited from the noon meal scheme, could not get the required nutrition due to poor family conditions in view of the Covid-19 induced lockdown.
It may be noted that though the School Education Department tried to provide dry rations at the doorsteps of the noon-meal beneficiaries, it could not be continued due to logistics issues in the wake of an increase in the number of coronavirus cases across the State. Following this, the government ordered to deposit money in bank account. However this is also delayed now, it is said.