Thiruvananthapuram: The mid-day meal scheme at schools has been effective in addressing malnutrition and promoting regular attendance of students. Kerala Government has decided to enlarge the ambit of the successful nationwide scheme to public colleges.
The government mulls providing free mid-day meals to financially backward students studying in government-owned arts and science colleges in the state.
The Kudumbasree Mission has been roped in to run the canteens in government colleges. Other students have to pay a sum, fixed by the Kudumbasree, for the meal.
Selection criteria
The deserving college students would be chosen for the free mid-day meal scheme based on the following four parameters:
1. Those below the poverty line and commute from more than 30 kilometres
2. Students whose parents have died
3. Students whose guardian has been bed-ridden, and
4. Students who are ill and travel from more than 30 km.
The government will grant up to Rs 5 lakh to each college to run this project. Besides, the students would be encouraged to do organic farming on the campuses.
The government, meanwhile, has decided to give a remuneration of Rs 100 per hour to the students who engage in farming activities on the campus. For this, an aid of Rs 10,000 has been allowed for every government college.