A video of a Kerala toddler asking for biryani and chicken fry, instead of upma, in his anganwadi meal, went viral. It not only attracted a prompt reaction from the minister concerned, but people joined in to seek change in the menu of the rural child care centres. Several people said the little boy should be given chicken and mutton biryani.
The massive response came after Thrajul S Sankar, a toddler from Kerala, was filmed asking for biryani and chicken fry.
“I want ‘birnani’ (biryani) and ‘poricha kozhi’ (chicken fry) in the anganwadi instead of puma,” Sankar said in the viral video where his mother was seen feeding him biryani at home. She posted it on Instagram. Millions watched, and it soon went viral.
The video trended on social media, and people came out in support of Sankar, nicknamed Shanku’s request. They were tickled by his cute request and found it humorous.
“The little ones deserve chicken biryani and mutton biryani too,” commented one user.
Some even went on to comment that the government should seriously think about changing the food served in anganwadis.
Many flagged that children do not like food in anganwadis and that more varieties, such as biryani and chicken fry, would make the food more palatable. Some joked that if children had a say, “upma might soon be replaced by biryani everywhere”.
There were even offers to treat Shanku to a biryani and chicken fry.
“After viewing the video [that went viral], people called us and offered biryani and chicken fry to Shanku,” his mother was quoted by some media outlets as saying. She added that the huge response surprised her.
Shanku’s video finally caught the attention of Kerala’s Health, Women, and Child Welfare Minister, Veena George.
She posted Shanku’s video on her Facebook page and praised Shanku for the cute request. She assured the public that the government would consider changing the anganwadi menu, including the inclusion of biryani.
“The menu will be revised keeping in mind Shanku’s suggestion,” the minister said.
Most people welcomed the minister’s acknowledgement and reply.
The Anganwadi Centres, under the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS), provide basic healthcare and nutrition to children up to six years old, as well as to pregnant women and lactating mothers.
Shanku’s viral video also initiated a larger debate over the food given to children in anganwadis. The Kerala government has already introduced a milk and eggs program to enhance the nutrition in anganwadis.
The reactions to Shanku’s viral video showed that there was a need for a greater variety of food that children like.
The episode even prompted some to recommend that meals for children in anganwadis be given greater priority than for children in other government institutions.
“Instead of serving wheat rotis, let’s ensure Anganwadi kids get biryani and fried chicken once a week,” recommended a Facebook user.