Chennai: Tamil Nadu BJP president Nainar Nagendran on Saturday said it was shocking that government school students were reportedly given biscuit packets instead of a nutritious breakfast under the morning meal scheme.
In a statement, he referred to reports from a panchayat union primary school in Vilathikulam, Thoothukudi district, where a disruption in the breakfast programme allegedly left around 40 students without food, following which biscuits were distributed.
Nagendran criticised the government, saying welfare schemes meant to ensure children from poor families can study without hunger are not being implemented properly. He also rejected the explanation attributed to officials that a shortage occurred because student enrolment had increased.
He said it was an administrative failure not to plan for higher food requirements when student numbers rise. He urged the Chief Minister to take immediate departmental action against officials responsible and those who acted negligently, and called for steps to ensure such incidents do not recur in any government school.
