The pandemic seems to have undone the years of progress made in reducing malnutrition among children. Since schools are lying shut due to the Covid outbreak, students are not getting food under the mid-day meal scheme.

Foodgrain was delivered on the doorsteps of the students for 24 days (March 23 to April 15), but after that, no distribution had been done and no instructions were given to the schools in this regard.

Around 13 lakh students of primary and upper-primary classes of government schools in the state come under the mid-day meal scheme.

Even during the period when ration was distributed, each primary student was given 1.2 kg each of wheat and rice, while upper primary student was given 1.8 kg each. Besides, a cooking amount of Rs 107.52 was given to primary students and Rs 161.04 to upper primary students by way of direct benefit transfer.

Meanwhile, anganwadi centres are regularly getting ration, comprising wheat, rice, sugar, milk powder, desi ghee and panjiri, which is being delivered on the doorsteps of the beneficiary children. The anganwadis provide breakfast and lunch to pre-school children.