Telangana Govt. Extends Midday Meal Scheme for Inter Students
From the academic year 2026-27, the government has decided to newly launch a breakfast scheme across the State for students studying from pre-primary to Intermediate, with quality nutrition
Hyderabad: Making nutrition and student welfare the top priority, the Telangana government has allocated funds for extending the midday meal scheme to Intermediate students in government junior colleges, introduced a new ₹720-crore breakfast programme from the 2026-27 academic year, which will include milk and ragi, and allocated ₹100 crore to upgrade kitchens in hostels and residential institutions.
“No child in Telangana should begin a school day on an empty stomach,” said deputy chief minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, framing the set of measures as part of how the state views
student welfare. The state has also announced motorised vehicles for differently-abled students as part of the same view of student welfare.
The midday meal scheme will now cover students in 430 government junior colleges. Officials expect it to reach around 2 lakh students. The minister said, “Adolescence is a highly crucial stage of life, and the nutrition received at this age determines their learning ability and life expectancy.”
The breakfast programme will run alongside it from the next academic year and extend from pre-primary to Intermediate. Students will receive milk on three days of the week and ragi malt on the other three days, and a budget of ₹720 crore has been allocated for ‘Breakfast and Milk to School Students’ scheme.
The budget also separately allocates ₹2,170 crore for diet in residential institutions and welfare institutions. Officials note that the full cost of running these schools sits across multiple heads, with food alone taking up a large share. The government has also set aside ₹100 crore to modernise kitchens in hostels and residential educational institutions after repeated complaints about hygiene and facilities, especially the numerous reports on food poisoning cases, some even leading to deaths.
With the midday meal scheme extension to junior colleges and the new breakfast schemes, it is worth noting that teachers’ groups had pushed for this extension to junior colleges.
Suresh Koppisetti, general secretary of the Telangana Gazetted Junior Lecturers Association, said the demand had been raised with the Chief Minister last year after members pointed to students attending classes without carrying lunch. “This decision would benefit students’ physical and mental development,” he said.
As a result, college administrators expect changes inside classrooms, including a rise in attendance once meals are available on campus, as noted by a government junior college principal. He said pass percentages could improve if students stay through the day instead of leaving early for food, adding that regular meals can steady concentration across periods.
The Budget also addresses access for students with disabilities at the Intermediate level. The government will provide retrofitted motorised vehicles to differently-abled students in government junior colleges. The minister said the decision follows complaints that travel remains a barrier for many. He said the government wants to remove that barrier so students can attend classes regularly and complete their education.
