'Ensure That Children Are Well Fed & Nourished': Madras High Court Seeks State's Reply On Plea For Door To Door Delivery Of Midday Meals

A Bench comprising of Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee and Justice Senthilkumar Ramamoorthy directed the State to take urgent notice of the matter and issued a host of recommendations to facilitate the implementation of such an initiative in aid of school children.

The Petitioner stated that the Government is obligated to ensure that school children get adequate nutritional intake of food under the National Food Security Act, 2013. However, in wake of the ongoing pandemic, all schools were closed down which led to the disbandment of the government's Midday Meal Scheme.

Taking cognisance of the grievance raised, the Court ruled that the State should take aggressive steps to ensure that children are well-fed and nourished, particularly since many families currently have inadequate resources due to job losses as a result of the ongoing pandemic.

The Court recommended that the State government must use the assistance of the Panchayat system to disburse nutritious food amongst school children.

"While it may be easier for the State, whether through the Corporations or the Municipalities, to organise adequate food and nourishment for children in the urban or semi-urban areas, the difficulties may come up in the rural areas. The Panchayat system may be used by the State and NGOs may be roped in for the purpose of reaching food and nourishment to children in the rural areas, particularly since family incomes in the rural areas may have suffered more during the pandemic", the order read.

Furthermore, the Court directed the State to come up with a plan of action on an immediate basis by observing,

"It would serve the children well if the State has a road-map ready so that the lack of adequate food and nourishment that children have suffered over the last 15 months or so, particularly among the more vulnerable sections, may be remedied without delay."

The matter is listed to be heard again on July 7 by which time the State is directed to file its response.

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