Supply Of Cooked Meals For School Going Children At Local Anganwadis To Resume From September 1: State Govt Informs Madras High Court

The Tamil Nadu government on Wednesday informed the Court that it would recommence the supply of cooked meals to school going children aged between two to six at local anganwadis in the State by September 1.

A Bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee and Justice P.D Audikesavalu was adjudicating upon a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) moved by the Citizen Consumer and Civic Action Group, an NGO highlighting the need to start door to door delivery of cooked nutritious meals for school going children owing to the closure of schools in the State since March 2020 due to the pandemic. The petitioner had submitted that the State is obligated to conduct such an exercise in light of the National Food Security Act, 2013.

On Wednesday, the counsel for the petitioner prayed before the Court to direct the State government to resume the delivery of cooked meals from August 15 instead of September 1. The petitioner also recommended that voluntary organisations showing willingness to deliver the cooked meals may be used for the exercise.

However, the State government noted its reservations in the matter by submitting before the Court that it was not practically possible to resume such a delivery of midday meal by August 15 although the State would make every endeavour to ensure that the supplies are resumed even earlier, if possible. The State also objected to the suggestion of seeking the assistance of voluntary organisations to carry the cooked meals for the children in the rural or semi-urban areas as such matters are best left to the discretion of the Executive.

After recording the submissions, the Court appreciated the fact that Advocate General R. Shunmugasundaram had convened a meeting at the instance of the Court, with the concerned officials to ensure that cooked meals are made available to school going children as expeditiously as possible. Furthermore, the Court directed the State government to make every endeavour to start the supply of cooked food at anganwadis much before September 1.

"It is hoped that the State can ensure that the scheme is resumed as expeditiously as possible and closer to August 15, 2021 than September 1, 2021. But, considering the thought and effort that may have gone into preparing the report, there appears to be little doubt that the State is committed to the resumption; subject, however, to what the situation on the ground may be, since the State says that the second surge may have abated, but is not altogether over and there are pockets where the number of infections is rising though in the other areas the number of infections has been going down. As far as this Court is aware, the daily number of infections is hovering around the 2000 mark in the State at the moment. The figures have increased a bit after having gone down considerably", the Court opined. 

The matter has been adjourned till September 3 for reporting progress.

Case Title: Citizen Consumer And Civic Action Group v. Union of India

Click Here To Read/Download Order