Notice on plea for nutritious diet hamper for children

A division bench comprising Justice MM Sundresh and Justice R Hemalatha, before whom the plea moved by Madras High Court Advocates Association vice-president R Sudha came up for hearing on Monday, directed the State to explain as to whether it has charted out an alternate plan in providing a nutritious meal to schoolchildren as they have been unable to attend school for long. The bench granted a week for the State to respond.

Sudha had submitted that with as many as 407 canteens across the State and nearly 200 in and around Chennai, the role of Amma Unavagam cannot be overlooked. “With the access of Amma Unavagam being wide and easy, it is only axiomatic that the facility is used to not only serve hygienic food at nominal rates but also to improve the immunity of the public who depend on it for sustenance,” she said.

Pointing out that the introduction of an egg with the meal would be in line with various studies that suggest intake of protein-rich food to keep the virus at bay, she said: “In a bid to benefit 48.57 lakh children enrolled in 43,243 noon meal centres, it’s important that the government undertook the distribution of nutrition hamper to households with young children to provide all the nourishment they require.”

“The package could either be distributed through ration shops or at the doorstep,” she added.