Bengaluru
The midday meal scheme in Karnataka has been recognized as a model for the entire country. This statement was made by Minister Krishna Byregowda during the inauguration of the 75th kitchen of the Akshaya Patra Foundation in Chikkajala, Byatarayanapura constituency. Byregowda noted that the first midday meal scheme for schoolchildren was started by Tamil Nadu’s former Chief Minister Kamaraj. However, he emphasized that Karnataka’s program received praise from the Supreme Court, leading other states to take notice.
The minister recalled that under Chief Minister SM Krishna, the scheme was launched to provide nutritious meals to children in schools throughout Karnataka. The Supreme Court questioned why this successful model could not be adopted nationwide, resulting in its implementation across India. Currently, 127 million schoolchildren benefit from midday meals, and the scheme has been particularly important for malnourished children.
The work of the Akshaya Patra Foundation was commended by Byregowda. The foundation collaborates with the government to deliver midday meals to schoolchildren in Karnataka. Its efforts have grown from Karnataka to include 16 states and two Union Territories, providing meals to 2.2 crore children nationwide. The minister praised this achievement, highlighting the significant role played by the Congress government and senior leaders in the scheme’s implementation.
