The Tamil Nadu government is in the spotlight again after School Education Minister Rajmohan said a proposal for chicken biryani in government schools is still being pursued. The idea is consistent with the vision of Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay, who wants to further refine and strengthen the state’s long-standing focus on student nutrition and welfare, while the proposal is still being studied and is expected to be put through pilot testing before any large-scale implementation, the minister said.
Rajmohan said the government wants to ensure that students benefit from nutritious and appealing meals. But he explained that the initiative will not be rolled out immediately because authorities must first create systems for hygiene, food safety, and efficient distribution. A pilot project would be carried out before any statewide implementation would be considered, he said.
The proposal was first discussed in July 2026 when Rajmohan said he had personally suggested introducing chicken biryani once a week as part of the state's Mid-Day Meal Scheme. The proposal was subsequently presented to Chief Minister Vijay and it was then discussed by parents, educators, nutrition experts, and political pundits.
Rajmohan has argued that the proposal should be seen from a nutritional perspective rather than a political one. He said growing children need sufficient protein and that Tamil Nadu has already improved its school nutrition programs through constant improvements.
Earlier governments introduced key reforms like eggs and expanded nutritious meal programs, and the chicken biryani proposal should be viewed in a similar manner.
The minister also added that vegetarian students will still receive vegetarian meals as well. The proposed chicken biryani would be available only to students who eat non-vegetarian food, and any dietary preferences and cultural choices would be respected.
Tamil Nadu is known for its school nutrition programs. The Mid-Day Meal Scheme started out as a project of former Chief Minister K. Kamaraj and has been developed by various governments over the past 40 years. The state also has a breakfast program for government school students that provides an additional nutritious meal during the day.
Rajmohan’s comments indicate that the government is still considering the proposal but also practical issues before making a decision. Hygiene standards, food preparation facilities, transportation logistics, and cost calculations are to be considered in the pilot phase. The government will be assessing if the scheme is feasible to carry out safely and effectively in thousands of schools.
Protein-rich meals are believed to contribute to better nutrition among schoolchildren and are especially important to economically and socially deprived communities, and supporters of the idea believe so. Other advocates have also called for more detailed studies of costs, logistics, and nutritional benefits before any statewide rollout. The upcoming pilot project will provide data for policymakers to make decisions.
But the debate has already triggered significant public interest, and many see it as the most ambitious change to Tamil Nadu's school meal program in recent years. If approved after successful testing, the effort would be another significant step in the state’s long history of school nutrition reform.
