The Hindu Business Line : The mid-day meal scheme

This is with reference to "MGR's mid-day meal scheme" (Business line, June11) . I was then Director of Education, Tamil Nadu involved in implementing this nutritious noon-meal scheme of the former Chief Minister, Dr M. G. Ramachandran. I also had the privilege of starting the mid-day meal scheme first under the then Chief Minister K. Kamaraj years before, as a District Education Officer.

Kamaraj started the pioneering scheme by giving free meals to one-third of the poor children in the State..

M. G. Ramachandran, started the now famous nutritious noon-meal scheme . When I submitted a proposal to the Chief Minister after a discussion with officers that we could provide meals to every school-going child from Monday to Friday (the working days), the Chief Minister had remarked: "As Director of Education, Mr Venkatasubramanian has suggested mid-day meals on the working days Monday to Friday for all. But the Director of Education forgets that though schools do not function on Saturdays and Sundays, the stomach functions all the seven days".

So the Chief Minister ordered that mid-day meals will be given on all the seven days, including the holidays.

Tamil Nadu is the only State that, even today, feeds school-children forthe entire week.

Dr. K. Venkatasubramanian

Member Planning Commission

New Delhi

Letters to the editor and contributions can be sent by e-mail to: bleditor@thehindu.co.in

More Stories on : Letters | Social Welfare

Article E-Mail :: Comment :: Syndication :: Printer Friendly Page

Stories in this Section
A case for alternative sources of power

Course correction

Failed by fallacies

A Greater China that will dominate

Unctad: For a new agenda

Avoidable foibles

Will TCS offer be a market stimulant?

The mid-day meal scheme

Travel bandh