Free Breakfast Scheme Begins for 2.7 Million Government School Students

The Telangana Government has launched a free nutritious breakfast scheme for students enrolled in government schools across the state. The programme, introduced under the leadership of Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, was formally inaugurated by Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka in Madhira, marking a significant expansion of the state's school nutrition initiatives.

The scheme is expected to benefit nearly 2.7 million students, ensuring they receive a healthy breakfast before classes begin each day. Education and nutrition experts have consistently linked regular morning meals with improved attendance, better concentration and enhanced academic performance, making the initiative a key investment in children's overall development.

As part of the launch, Bhatti Vikramarka inaugurated a state-of-the-art Centralised Community Kitchen established in partnership with the Hare Krishna Charitable Foundation. Equipped with mechanised cooking systems and modern hygiene standards, the facility will prepare and distribute fresh, nutritious meals to thousands of students every day. The Deputy Chief Minister inspected the food preparation process and later joined students for breakfast, interacting with them to gather their feedback.

Addressing the gathering, Bhatti said the government's guiding principle is that "no child should go to school on an empty stomach." He noted that proper nutrition is essential for children's physical growth, cognitive development and classroom engagement. Describing the programme as an investment in Telangana's future, he said developing healthy and educated children would strengthen the state's human capital and long-term economic growth.

The Deputy Chief Minister also announced plans to replicate the centralised kitchen model across residential educational institutions. The decision follows food safety concerns and food poisoning incidents reported in some residential schools in recent years. He said mechanised kitchens would help ensure uniform food quality, maintain strict hygiene standards and eliminate contamination risks.

Bhatti emphasised that governance is about delivering meaningful improvements in people's lives through effective public welfare. Later, he met Booth Level Agents (BLAs) in the Madhira Assembly constituency, urging them to safeguard every eligible citizen's voting rights during the ongoing electoral roll revision. He said 90 per cent of voter mapping had already been completed in the constituency and called for coordinated efforts to achieve full enrolment, while assuring continued support for BLAs and their families.