Schools Welcome Children Back with Breakfast

Hyderabad: Schools reopened on Monday after a 52-day summer break, as breakfast was served to around 6,000 students in all 45 government schools covered under the first phase in Hyderabad. Textbooks and notebooks were distributed on the first day, but attendance remained low in several schools, and the promised uniforms, shoes and welcome kits are still awaited.

Transport and BC welfare minister Ponnam Prabhakar launched the programme at Government High School, Raj Bhavan. The government has said the first phase will cover 1,44,610 students across 1,302 government educational institutions, including 1,269 schools and 33 junior colleges. Hyderabad’s school component covers 45 institutions, while Manna Trust has been tasked with meals.

The 45 schools have 12,437 students on their rolls. Ramana Reddy, operations manager of Manna Trust, said food reached every school covered by the programme. However, the number served was lower than the total enrolment because many children stayed away.

“Breakfast was served to around 6,000 students across all 45 selected government schools in Hyderabad on the first day. Most schools received either idli with sambar or puri with mixed vegetable kurma,” he said.

Students said the breakfast would help children who leave home without eating. “Having breakfast at school means I can sit in class without feeling hungry. I really enjoyed the meal,” Shiva said. Venkat, another student, added, “I was happy to come back and meet my friends and eat with them.”

Teachers welcomed the meal programme but said it should not remain restricted to selected schools and districts. Chava Ravi, state president of the Telangana State United Teachers’ Federation (TSUTF) said all government-school students should be covered soon.

“We welcome the breakfast scheme. It is a good initiative, but it must be extended quickly to all 19 lakh students in government schools across Telangana instead of remaining limited to a few districts,” Ravi said.

He said attendance was poor in many schools because the reopening day coincided with Amavasya. Reports from parts of Telangana also recorded low turnout.

Uniforms and other materials announced by the government did not reach students on the first day. The state had promised two uniform sets, shoes, socks, belts, ties, bags and other items under its centralised procurement programme. “Uniforms and the promised student kits are still pending, Government should supply them at the earliest,” he said.

The government had earlier said textbooks and notebooks had reached schools and would be distributed during the first week. It also announced that women’s self-help groups would stitch the uniforms after the fabric was supplied.