Kerala preschooler demands biryani, state anganwadis oblige

The chicken biryani indeed came first, before the egg — to the 3-year-old in Kerala who demanded chicken pepper fry (poricha kozhi) and biryani at school instead of the daily dose of upma.

His argument was nutritionally sound too: He told his mother that upma is good for health but not tasty, while chicken biryani is both tasty and healthy.

His mother shared a video of the cute 'request' on Republic Day, 26 January, while enjoying the biryani at home. And now that Trijal S. Sundhar (aka Shanku) is 4, he is getting his wish — or at least an approximation thereof.

Kerala’s minister of health, women and child welfare Veena George has just announced a new menu for the state’s anganwadis — and egg biryani is on the meal plan, once a week. She too had seen and shared Shanku’s viral video and promised to consider his ‘suggestions’.

Now, in the revised meal plan, eggs and milk are also to be served thrice a week (they were earlier offered just twice a week, and added only in 2022). Also on the new menu are pulao, dal payasam, a curry with textured soya protein, kozhukatta, ela ada, kadala (Bengal gram) curry and raita/pachadi.

The attempt is to have a standardised, nutritious menu with traditional treats featuring in a nutritional plan higher in protein and lower in sugar and salt, which is to be served to children across the state.

Kerala has around 33,000 anganwadis, staffed mainly by women (95 per cent) — whose salaries are also to see an increase. Alongside, the anganwadis themselves are being converted into 'smart anganwadis' with separate rooms for ‘study’ and rest, and a garden, indoor and outdoor play areas.

The biryani? That will come from on-site kitchens and be served in separate dining halls.

Unfortunately, there are always critics, even for the best ideas, for all good things in life. So the Islamophobes and aggressive sanatanis are bent on proving, anyway, it would seem.

Some wanted to know whether pork would be next. Others were upset that this move represents a ‘slow and steady’ ‘Islamisation’ of India — because this is clearly not a “State cultural meal” (and clearly the Moplah community are infiltrators who belong in Pakistan or Bangladesh or Malaysia).

One particularly concerned citizen thought it necessary to inveigh against overfeeding of children. Another said from biryani, it was but a short slippery slope to 72 hoors and bombs.