Bhatti Vikramarka Launches Free Breakfast Kitchen in Madhira Constituency

Deputy Chief Minister Bhatti Vikramarka on Monday launched a state-wide free breakfast scheme for government school students by inaugurating a centralised community kitchen in the Madhira assembly constituency. The initiative aims to provide hygienic, tasty, and nutritious morning meals to 27 lakh children across all government schools in Telangana, ensuring that no child attends school on an empty stomach.

The launch in Madhira constituency marks the beginning of the scheme's rollout across all government schools in Telangana, as previously announced in the state budget. Addressing the public, Vikramarka emphasized that the future of students is inextricably linked to the future of the state, explaining that the government took up the project to address the daily difficulties faced by school children.

Speaking at a public meeting following the inauguration, the Deputy Chief Minister forcefully defended state-funded social welfare programs. He stated that welfare schemes should properly be viewed as crucial investments in people rather than freebies. He asserted that governments have a duty to invest in the social and economic advancement of all sections of society, with a particular focus on supporting the poor, Dalits, and backward communities.

The newly opened temporary centralised kitchen in Madhira is currently supplying breakfast to government schools spread across 16 mandals. Vikramarka announced that permanent centralised kitchens will be completed across the state within the next three months to support the full scale of the scheme.

Describing the breakfast program as a historic initiative, Vikramarka noted that it will benefit 27 lakh students across the state, a figure that includes seven lakh students residing in government residential schools. He pointed out that despite facing financial constraints, the government prioritized funding for the scheme to promote both the physical and mental development of students every morning.

Alongside the newly introduced breakfast program, the state government is also providing supplementary dietary items to boost student nutrition. As part of this health push, government school students receive milk three days a week and ragi malt on another three days.