Thousands of pupils get nutrition improved in Sichuan, China (Xinhua)

[JAYRAM]

08:25, March 14

Pupils drink milk and eat eggs at their classroom of Songgang Central Primary School at Songgang Township of Ma'erkang County in Aba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Sichuan Province, March 12, 2012. Each student in this school has been offered one box of milk and one egg for free every day since this month. A total of 6,709 students from 16 elementary and secondary schools in Ma'erkang could benefit from the new government initiative to improve nutrition for students. (Xinhua/Li Qiaoqiao)

Pupils walk to classroom after getting milk and eggs at Songgang Central Primary School at Songgang Township of Ma'erkang County in Aba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Sichuan Province, March 12, 2012. Each student in this school has been offered one box of milk and one egg for free every day since this month. A total of 6,709 students from 16 elementary and secondary schools in Ma'erkang could benefit from the new government initiative to improve nutrition for students. (Xinhua/Li Qiaoqiao)

Students queue up to get milk at Songgang Central Primary School at Songgang Township of Ma'erkang County in Aba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Sichuan Province, March 12, 2012. Each student in this school has been offered one box of milk and one egg for free every day since this month. A total of 6,709 students from 16 elementary and secondary schools in Ma'erkang could benefit from the new government initiative to improve nutrition for students. (Xinhua/Li Qiaoqiao)

...We are also having this service in schools..!

India

See also Midday Meal Scheme

Under the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS), government schools and partially-aided schools, along with Anganwadis, provide midday meals to the students attending such institutions, known as the Midday Meal Scheme. The meals served are free of cost and meet guidelines that have been set by the policy. The history of the program can be traced to 1925, making it one of the oldest free food programs for school children.

The Akshaya Patra Foundation, which demonstrates a public-private partnership in midday meal programme is the world's largest school meal programme run by an NGO. Akshaya Patra started serving 1500 children in the year 2000 and today it serves freshly cooked lunches to over 1.2 million hungry school children in 8 states in India everyday.

A single afternoon lunch usually contains a cereal which is locally available, made in a way acceptable to the prevailing local customs. Vegetables cooked as curry or soups and a portion of milk is allotted for each child. The menu is occasionally varied to appeal to students.