Prepare Exigency Plan To Ensure Midday Meal Scheme Is Not Stalled During Future Calamities, Pandemic: Madras High Court Directs State Govt

The Madras High Court on Friday urged the State government to prepare a plan of action to ensure that the Midday Meal Scheme at schools is not disrupted in the event of future natural calamities or disasters such as the COVID-19 pandemic.

A Bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee and Justice PD Audikesavalu observed,

"While it is hoped that the worst is behind us, what the pandemic may have taught humanity is to not take anything for granted and be prepared for the worst. It would do well for the State to prepare a plan of action where, whether there is any natural calamity or disaster or the pandemic or anything which is beyond the everyday difficulty, there is a Plan-B or a Plan-C ready, so that the vulnerable children and young adults do not go without nutritious meals."

The Bench was adjudicating upon a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) petition 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.

The Bench on Friday commended the State government for resuming the midday meal scheme for school-going children in the rural areas even though the lockdown has not been completely lifted. The Court noted that cooking is undertaken at anganwadi centres before schools reopened for the 9th standard onwards, whereupon hot cooked nutritious meals with eggs were supplied to the children going to school.

"The remainder of the students should be supplied the midday meals when schools reopen for the other classes from November 1, 2021", the Court further directed.

The Principal Secretary to the State Government in the Social Welfare and Women Empowerment Department apprised the Bench that all students in 9th and 10th standards now have access to hot cooked nutritious since classes have already resumed for them since September 1, 2021.

"The remainder of the classes will resume on November 1, 2021. It is submitted on behalf of the State that immediately upon resumption of the other classes, the children will get their hot cooked nutritious meals with egg from the first day of the resumption of school", the Court noted further.

The Court further directed the Secretary in the Social Welfare and Women Empowerment Department to file a status report before the next date of hearing and also to inform the Court as to whether there is an exigency or emergency plan in place to deal with a situation as the one brought about by the pandemic.

The matter is slated to be heard next on November 26.

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

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