Karnataka: Parboiled rice to be supplied for class 9, 10 students in DK

Officials have decided to supply parboiled rice — instead of raw rice — as part of the midday meals scheme for students studying in classes 9 and 10 in government schools. The change will be implemented in the January-February supply, said Usha M, executive officer, Akshara Dasoha, Dakshina Kannada.

This development comes after several School Development and Monitoring Committees (SDMCs), students, and teachers of high schools in Dakshina Kannada complained that children are unwilling to consume rice cooked from raw rice supplied as part of the midday meal programme. Hithero, schools were supplied with parboiled rice. In November-December supply, they were provided with raw rice. The students complained that they could not consume it as the rice, after cooking, turned mushy or soggy.

Usha told STOI that the issue was brought to the attention of the higher officials in Bengaluru. They have assured them to supply parboiled rice.

Rice is supplied to government schools for students studying in classes 1 to 8 through the Food Corporation of India. Rice for students in classes 9 and 10 is supplied through third parties following a tender process. A total of 753 quintals of raw rice was procured for November and December.

Meanwhile, Akshara Dasoha, Dakshina Kannada, will undertake a survey in March to understand how boiled eggs, bananas, or groundnut chikki with midday meals have helped children address malnutrition.

This article has been republished from The Times of India.