Chennai: The Tamil Nadu unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has strongly condemned reports of alleged contamination in the breakfast served to students under a state government scheme. Nainar Nagenthran, the state BJP president, voiced his concerns, demanding stringent inspections and accountability for the quality and safety of food provided to schoolchildren.
Recent incidents have brought to light alleged instances where breakfast served under the Chief Minister’s Breakfast Scheme has been found to be contaminated. Reports have surfaced detailing cases where foreign objects, including a dead lizard, were discovered in the food, leading to several students falling ill and requiring hospitalization. This has raised serious questions about the implementation and oversight of the scheme, which aims to provide nutritious meals to students to improve their concentration and attendance.
Nainar Nagenthran has been vocal in his criticism, stating that such lapses would not have occurred if regular inspections and quality checks were in place. He has called for the formation of committees to regularly inspect the preparation and distribution of food meant for school children. The BJP leader has pointed out that the scheme, while a noble initiative, is marred by irregularities in its implementation. He alleged that the food often contained unhygienic elements and questioned how these could go unnoticed by the government.
Expressing his dismay, Nagenthran remarked that the breakfast meant for innocent children is being served with everything from worms to lizards, questioning the vigilance of the ruling Dravidian model government. He further criticized the practice of preparing food at distant centers and transporting it to schools, suggesting that this process could lead to the food becoming stale and unfit for consumption by the time it reaches the students. He questioned if the government believed that anything could be served as food to children from economically weaker sections or if it was an attempt to hide the truth through false propaganda.
The Chief Minister’s Breakfast Scheme, introduced to ensure that students do not skip the most important meal of the day due to various reasons, has been a flagship program for the Tamil Nadu government. The scheme has been expanded to cover students from Classes I to VIII across government and government-aided schools, aiming to benefit millions of children. While the scheme’s objectives are widely lauded for their potential to improve child nutrition, attendance, and educational outcomes, these recent incidents cast a shadow over its execution.
Concerns have also been raised about the quality and hygiene standards of food handlers involved in the scheme. Studies have indicated persistent challenges regarding food variety and hygienic practices among those preparing and serving the meals, emphasizing the need for greater community involvement and periodic inspections. The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has taken note of such incidents, deeming them serious violations of children’s human rights and seeking detailed reports from state officials.
These incidents echo past concerns regarding food safety in school meal programs across India, including a tragic case in Bihar in 2013 where 23 children died after consuming food contaminated with a toxic pesticide. Critics argue that while the intention of such schemes is commendable, the execution needs robust oversight to prevent serious health risks to vulnerable children. The expansion of the breakfast scheme, they contend, will be futile without a significant improvement in the quality and safety of the food served.
The Tamil Nadu government has previously faced criticism over similar food contamination issues. In July 2023, 69 students in Tiruvannamalai fell ill after consuming lunch that reportedly contained a lizard. Another incident in July 2025 involved allegations of human faeces being mixed in water used for cooking at a school in Thiruvarur district. These recurring issues highlight the persistent challenges in maintaining stringent food safety and hygiene standards in school meal programs, despite efforts to improve them.
❤️ Support Independent Journalism
Your contribution keeps our reporting free, fearless, and accessible to everyone.
Or make a one-time donation
Secure via Razorpay • 12 monthly payments • Cancel anytime before next cycle
(We don't allow anyone to copy content. For Copyright or Use of Content related questions, visit here.)
The Chenab Times News Desk
