Editor's Pick: Breakfast Scheme launched in Tamil Nadu

On September 15, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin inaugurated the Breakfast Scheme for students of Classes 1 to 8 in government schools. Given the raging debate in government, courts and elsewhere about what constitutes a “freebie”, Mr. Stalin stressed that this was not a “freebie”, charity or gift. He said it was the duty and responsibility of governments to ensure that children were well fed. Mr. Stalin wrote that research shows improved learning when children are provided breakfast in school. Tamil Nadu is also the pioneer of the midday meal scheme, arguably among the best government interventions in the country which links food and nutrition to education and development. To learn more the history of the midday scheme in Tamil Nadu, read here. In 1995, the Central government introduced the National Programme of Nutritional Support to Primary Education, to help the effectiveness of primary education by improving the nutritional status of children. And in April 2001, a Supreme Court order mandated the scheme to be introduced in every State and UT. Today, the scheme is known as PM Poshan Shakti Nariman. Providing meals to children at school has many advantages: for instance, one study showed that the prevalence of stunting was lower in areas where the midday meal was implemented in 2005. However, despite government interventions, the Public Distribution System and the National Food Security Act, the National Famil Health Survey data show that childhood stunting has risen in many States, there is high prevalence of anaemia among children and women, and wasting is a serious concern. The Global Hunger Index of 2021 said India’s food situation is serious, which the government contested. In this context, the editorial above said there must be “greater diversity of diets that compensates for micronutrient and protein deficiency”. Malnutrition in India has worsened, especially since the COVID-19 outbreak when children could not attend school. Learning gaps have widened because of the pandemic. Bringing down malnutrition and improving learning outcomes is an urgent task and the Breakfast Scheme is a step in this direction. This is why this is the top pick of the day. Was this newsletter forwarded to you? Head over to our newsletter subscription page to sign up for Editor‘s Pick and more. Click here The Hindu’s Editorials Curse of Goa: On Congress MLAs defection to BJP Arbitrary and exclusionary: On EWS quota The Hindu’s Daily Quiz PM Modi is in Samarkand to attend the SCO Summit. Name the country that is going to be inducted as the ninth member of the SCO. Israel Indonesia Iran Hungary To find out the answer and play the full quiz, click here. [logo] Editor's Pick 16 SEPTEMBER 2022 [The Hindu logo] In the Editor's Pick newsletter, The Hindu explains why a story was important enough to be carried on the front page of today's edition of our newspaper. [Arrow]( [Open in browser]( [Mail icon]( [More newsletters]( Breakfast Scheme launched in Tamil Nadu On September 15, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin inaugurated the Breakfast Scheme for students of Classes 1 to 8 in government schools. Given the raging debate in government, courts and elsewhere about what constitutes a “freebie”, [Mr. Stalin stressed that this was not a “freebie”]( charity or gift. He said it was the duty and responsibility of governments to ensure that children were well fed. [Mr. Stalin wrote]( that research shows improved learning when children are provided breakfast in school. Tamil Nadu is also the pioneer of the midday meal scheme, arguably among the best government interventions in the country which links food and nutrition to education and development. To learn more the history of the midday scheme in Tamil Nadu, read [here]( In 1995, the Central government introduced the National Programme of Nutritional Support to Primary Education, to help the effectiveness of primary education by improving the nutritional status of children. And in April 2001, a Supreme Court order mandated the scheme to be introduced in every State and UT. Today, the scheme is known as PM Poshan Shakti Nariman. Providing meals to children at school has [many advantages]( for instance, one study showed that the prevalence of stunting was lower in areas where the midday meal was implemented in 2005. However, despite government interventions, the Public Distribution System and the National Food Security Act, the National Famil Health Survey data show that [childhood stunting has risen in many States]( there is high prevalence of anaemia among children and women, and wasting is a serious concern. The Global Hunger Index of 2021 said [India’s food situation is serious]( which the government contested. In this context, the editorial above said there must be “greater diversity of diets that compensates for micronutrient and protein deficiency”. Malnutrition in India has worsened, especially since the COVID-19 outbreak when children could not attend school. [Learning gaps have widened]( because of the pandemic. Bringing down malnutrition and improving learning outcomes is an urgent task and the Breakfast Scheme is a step in this direction. This is why this is the top pick of the day. Was this newsletter forwarded to you? Head over to our newsletter subscription page to sign up for Editor‘s Pick and more. [Click here]( The Hindu’s Editorials [Arrow][Curse of Goa: On Congress MLAs defection to BJP]( [Arrow][Arbitrary and exclusionary: On EWS quota]( The Hindu’s Daily Quiz PM Modi is in Samarkand to attend the SCO Summit. Name the country that is going to be inducted as the ninth member of the SCO. - Israel - Indonesia - Iran - Hungary To find out the answer and play the full quiz, [click here](. 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