The Coimbatore City Municipal Corporation is contemplating changing its current free breakfast program for sanitation workers to a midday meal initiative. Concerns have been raised that breakfast served early in the morning loses freshness before workers can eat it. Corporation Commissioner M. Sivaguru Prabhakaran acknowledged complaints from workers about the food becoming stale or unfit for consumption after hours of fieldwork.
Sanitation workers in Coimbatore usually start their day early, engaging in sweeping and conservancy tasks across the city. However, due to their schedules, many workers can only have their meal break later in the morning. Since breakfast is prepared as early as 6.30 a.m., workers find that the food loses its freshness by 10 a.m., impacting its taste and quality.
If the proposal goes through, the Corporation plans to introduce a midday meal priced at Rs 51 per worker per day, an increase from the current Rs 40 spent on breakfast. The additional cost will be covered by the civic body as part of its commitment to the welfare of frontline staff.
To ensure the decision aligns with worker preferences, the Corporation will distribute forms to all sanitation workers to gather their opinions. Based on the feedback received, officials will determine whether to continue the breakfast scheme or transition to the midday meal system.
Presently, around 9,454 cleanliness workers involved in conservancy operations in Coimbatore benefit from the free breakfast program. Many workers have expressed that a midday meal would be more convenient and nutritious, aiding them in sustaining themselves after physically demanding tasks. The free breakfast scheme was initially introduced by the Tamil Nadu government to ensure sanitation workers receive proper nutrition despite their early work hours.
Coimbatore Mayor R. Ranganayaki had previously thanked Chief Minister M.K. Stalin for initiating this welfare measure. The proposed shift aims to enhance food quality, worker well-being, and overall support for one of the city’s crucial workforces.
