Chicken biryani for schoolchildren is CM Vijay’s wish, says TN minister

The Tamil Nadu government has reiterated its plan to introduce chicken biryani for students in government schools, with School Education Minister Raj Mohan saying the proposal reflects Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay’s wish to provide children with a nutritious and more varied meal.

The plan, however, will not be implemented immediately. The government intends to first conduct a pilot and testing phase to assess food preparation, hygiene, safety and logistical arrangements before considering a wider rollout.

Speaking about the proposal, Raj Mohan said the government wants government school students to have the option of chicken biryani, but stressed that adequate arrangements must be put in place before it can be introduced on a larger scale.

“With all due respect, even prisoners in Puzhal prison have chicken biriyani. Can’t our students also have it?” the minister said.

He said the government would initially conduct a pilot project and evaluate the arrangements before expanding the initiative.

“It cannot be implemented immediately as it has to be done in hygienic conditions. There has to be a pilot and test project. In the coming days, we will make sure school students will have chicken biriyani in schools,” Raj Mohan said.

Proposal under consideration

The proposal was first reported in July, when the Tamil Nadu government was considering serving chicken biryani once a week to students in government schools under the Mid-Day Meal Scheme.

Raj Mohan had said he personally proposed the idea to Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay, who would take the final decision on the plan. The proposal came amid a wider discussion over introducing non-vegetarian food into school meal programmes.

The minister had argued that growing children need adequate protein and said providing chicken biryani should not be viewed as a political issue.

“In Tamil Nadu, the educational revolution has always gone hand in hand with a nutritional revolution,” he had said while explaining the rationale behind the proposal.

Raj Mohan had also clarified that students who prefer vegetarian food would continue to receive vegetarian meals, while those who eat non-vegetarian food could opt for chicken biryani if the proposal is implemented.

Hygiene and logistics key to rollout

The latest remarks indicate that the proposal remains under consideration, with the government focusing on whether chicken biryani can be prepared and served safely to large numbers of students.

The pilot and testing phase is expected to help authorities assess food preparation methods, hygiene standards and logistical requirements before any decision on expanding the programme across government schools.

Tamil Nadu’s school nutrition programme has undergone several changes over the years, with successive governments expanding the range of meals served to students. The state also runs a breakfast programme for government schoolchildren alongside the midday meal initiative.

The government is also considering improvements to the school breakfast menu as part of its broader focus on nutrition and school attendance.