Providing midday meals to schoolchildren is one of the primary responsibilities of the government. This arrangement has been going on since the formation of Kerala. Initially, only children from poor families were included in this, later it was expanded. Lunch is now being provided in schools to all those who need it. Although the mid-day meal plan is in the news now and then, it seems that the matter is going to court for the first time now. The High Court had to intervene in the mid-day meal scheme several times. This is when the financial crisis of the government reached the point where the children's midday meals will also be interrupted. The mid-day meal scheme, which is going on with the participation of the state and central governments, has been in trouble recently and has become a controversy. Cooks who prepare lunch in schools have also gone on strike several times for wage hikes. On the other hand, the teachers' organizations are protesting against the government not increasing the lunch allowance. The teachers who are in charge of this are asking how can a child be given the necessary lunch for six or eight rupees in these days of rising prices. The education department has not yet been able to make a proper decision on the petitions to increase the quota. Meanwhile, the delay and disputes in sanctioning the allotment are reaching the stage where the implementation of the project may be affected. At present, the head teachers and PTA of the respective schools are taking loans and having money drives to get the funds for lunches.

It is the need of the society that the lunch for the children should not fail. At the same time, its responsibility cannot be limited to the school authorities only. That is what the High Court also said the last time. Central and state governments should be able to provide funds without delay. Failure to do so will be a great offense not only to the children but also to society itself. Urgent action is needed so that the financial difficulties of the state government do not affect the mid-day meal scheme.

It is in this context that the new instruction proposed to be implemented by the Education Department is a topic of discussion. The education department has come forward with a proposal to carry forward the mid-day meal scheme with social participation. The suggestion is to find generous people around the school and collect the necessary money. The Director of Education has also released a circular in this regard. In the committee chaired by the head teacher, there will be public workers, PTAs etc. as members. The committee is also allowed to expand the existing mid-day meal scheme if required. Necessary money should be found for this at the regional level. It is suggested that the project should be vigorously pursued by accepting interest-free loans from those who are willing to give money. Although the idea is good, there has been criticism that the government is withdrawing from its responsibility by handing over the project to the committee. It is also relevant to doubt how honest the fund collection and spending will be. There are many people in the society who see any way to collect money as an opportunity to conduct scams, and there are answers about who will be in control of all this. This is a problem that can be solved if the budget allocation for the mid-day meal scheme is given on time and revised periodically.