Kerala to review anganwadi menu after child's request for biryani, chicken fry
Thiruvananthapuram (PTI): A viral video of a child asking his mother for biryani and chicken fry instead of upma--referring to meals at his anganwadi--is likely to prompt changes in the menu at such childcare centres in Kerala.
State Minister for Health, Women and Child Welfare, Veena George, shared the video of a child named Shanku, making such a request on her Facebook page and said the anganwadi's menu would be revised.
She said that the child made the request innocently, and it is being taken into consideration.
Sending warm regards to Shanku, his mother, and the anganwadi staff, the minister said, "The menu will be reviewed, taking Shanku's suggestion into account."
George explained that various types of food are provided through anganwadis to ensure nutritional meals for children.
"Under this government, a scheme to provide eggs and milk through anganwadis has been successfully implemented. In coordination with the Department of Women and Child Development, local bodies provide a variety of foods in anganwadis," George added.
In the viral video, the child, wearing a cap, was heard innocently asking his mother, "I need 'birnani' (biryani) and 'poricha kozhi' (chicken fry) in the anganwadi instead of upma."
His mother said she filmed the video when he requested while eating biryani at home, then posted it on Instagram, where it went viral.
"After seeing the video, we received calls from some people who offered biryani and chicken fry to Shanku," she told a news channel.
Netizens also supported the child's request, with some suggesting that the government should reduce the food provided to convicts in jails and offer better meals to children through anganwadis.
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Sujit Nair raises concerns over speculation of DMK-AIADMK understanding to block TVK
Chennai: Journalist and political commentator Sujit Nair has expressed concern over speculation that the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam could explore a post-poll understanding to prevent Vijay-led Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam from forming the government in Tamil Nadu.
In a social media post, Sujit Nair said the election verdict in Tamil Nadu reflected a clear public demand for political change and argued that the mandate should be respected irrespective of political preferences.
Referring to reports and political discussions surrounding a possible understanding between the DMK and AIADMK, he said he hoped such developments remained only speculative conversations and did not turn into reality.
Nair stated that if such an alliance were to take shape, it would raise serious questions about ideological politics in the country. He said TVK had emerged through a democratic electoral process and that the legitimacy to govern in a parliamentary democracy comes from the people’s verdict.
According to him, attempts to prevent an electoral winner from forming the government through unexpected political arrangements may be constitutionally valid, but many people could view them as politically opportunistic.
He further said that such a move could particularly affect the political image of the DMK, which has historically projected itself around ideology, social justice and opposition politics. Nair said that in ideological terms, the DMK appeared closer to TVK than to the AIADMK, and joining hands with its long-time political rival only to remain in power could weaken its broader political narrative.
He added that the same questions would apply to the AIADMK as well, as the party had spent decades positioning itself against the DMK and such an arrangement could create discomfort among its cadre and supporters.
Drawing a comparison with Maharashtra politics in 2019, Nair said he had expressed similar views when the Shiv Sena formed an alliance with the Indian National Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party after the Assembly elections.
He said post-poll alliances between long-standing political rivals often create a public perception that ideology and electoral mandates become secondary when political power equations come into play.
Nair also said such developments increase public cynicism towards politics and reinforce the belief among voters that ideology is often sidelined after elections.
He maintained that the Tamil Nadu verdict was emphatic and said respecting both the spirit and substance of the mandate was important for the credibility of democratic politics.
