Pediatricians Urge Maharashtra Govt To Stop Serving Sugary Items To Students In Midday Meals

Pediatricians urge Maharashtra to stop sugary midday meals, warning of diabetes and obesity risks, while critics call out the government's policy of adding excessive sugar to students' meals.

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar: A group of pediatricians has urged the Maharashtra government to stop including sugary food items in school midday meals, warning of potential health risks such as diabetes and obesity among children, as reported by news agency PTI.

In a letter to State School Education Minister Deepak Kesarkar, the Maharashtra Academy of Pediatrics expressed concern over the government’s GR, which mandates serving rice pudding to students four times a week under the Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Nirman Yojana (formerly the midday meal scheme).

The GR specifies that 25 grams of sugar be added to meals for students in Classes I to V, and 45 grams for those in Classes VI to VIII.

Dr. Ramgopal Chejara, president of the Maharashtra Pediatrics Association, explained that while the daily sugar requirement is 25 grams, students already consume additional sugar from other food items throughout the day, which increases their overall intake.

“Adding 25 to 45 grams of sugar to these meals could lead to diabetes and obesity in children. Our teams have visited schools, and we have appealed to the government to stop providing such sugary food items,” Dr. Chejara told PTI.

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Ambadas Danve also criticised the state government over this GR. In a post on X, he accused the government of treating the younger generation as a "factory" for digesting excess sugar.

Danve further pointed out the contradiction in the Union government’s approach, noting that while restrictions are being imposed on ethanol production, schoolchildren are being given excessive amounts of sugar. Danve currently serves as the Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council.

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