Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru

Bengaluru, Dec 5: The state government has issued an order granting funds for distributing eggs, bananas, and midday meals to students of LKG and UKG in government schools, where English-medium pre-primary classes have been introduced. Until now, the Centre funded midday meals for Classes 1 to 8, while the state government provided meals for Classes 9 and 10.

Although LKG and UKG were introduced last year, no separate allocation had been made. Schools had been adjusting food for younger children by setting aside portions from the senior students’ midday meals. This year, the state wrote to the Centre seeking midday meal support for LKG children. Now, the scheme has been officially extended to them with funding approved for meals as well as eggs and bananas. The order has come into effect from December 1.

A cost of Rs 6.78 per child has been fixed, of which Rs 4.07 will be provided by the Centre and Rs 2.71 by the state. For four days a week, the Azeem Premji Foundation will supply eggs and bananas, while the state government will provide them on the remaining days.

With the aim of improving enrolment in government schools, the state introduced English-medium in Class 1 in 1,000 schools during 2019–20, alongside Kannada medium. In 2024–25, the number increased to 1,792 schools; in 2025–26, it rose by another 208, followed by the launch of English medium from LKG onwards in 4,134 additional schools.

A total of Rs 70 crore has been spent on this initiative. Another Rs 755.62 crore has been earmarked for providing eggs and bananas from LKG to Class 10. The beneficiaries include 40,47,461 students in government schools and 11,13,929 students in aided schools, totalling 51,61,390 children.