Chinese Primary School Lunch Has Caused a Strong Reaction from Indian Netizens!
Recently, a video of Chinese primary school students having lunch has sparked heated discussions in India. In the footage, students at a regular public primary school are holding trays with complete chicken legs, stir-fried meat slices, green vegetables, rice, and soup. This is not a "showcase meal" of an individual school, but rather a common microcosm.
In contrast, India's "Mid-Day Meal Scheme," launched in 1995, is one of the largest school feeding programs in the world, theoretically covering 120 million students. However, the reality is much more complex.
According to a 2022 report by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India, the program suffers from serious misappropriation of funds, shortages of ingredients, and hygiene issues. In large states such as Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, many schools can only provide meals 3–4 days a week, with the content long limited to dal (lentil soup), rice, and a small amount of vegetables, rarely including meat or eggs. For example, the meal in Figure 4 is already considered quite good for a high-caste Indian primary school student.
What is more ironic is that the Indian Parliament cafeteria regularly serves a lavish buffet, including chicken curry, fried eggs, cheese, and fruits, with the cost of meals for MPs being borne by taxpayers. The per-meal subsidy per person reaches as high as 300–500 rupees (approximately 26–43 yuan), far exceeding the actual expenditure on school meals.
This contrast naturally causes many Indian netizens to "break down" in the comments section. They are not jealous of China's wealth, but rather question: Why can the country provide decent meals for its elite class, yet fail to extend the same care to the children who need nutrition the most?
Indian netizens have expressed their feelings, saying: Look, this is how China provides lunch in its public schools. What is stopping India? India provides such meals in the parliamentary cafeteria for members of parliament. That is our school.
Original article: www.toutiao.com/article/1848288538122248/
Statement: This article represents the personal views of the author.