In a first, T plans midday meal for Inter and degree students

Hyderabad: Perhaps in a first in the country, Telangana will be serving mid-day meals to its degree and Intermediate students from this new academic year, which is likely to begin in September, after months of uncertainty over the pandemic. So far, the midday meal (MDM) scheme had been available only for high school students in the state.

- Koride Mahesh

A decision to this effect was taken by chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao on Friday, presumably which senior officials said was to arrest the dropout rate of students from government colleges. Though there is no authentic data on the dropout rate, officials estimated that dropout and students lacking sufficient attendance combined could be around 40%.