Mon Sep 22 19:07:36 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a summary of the text followed by a rewritten version as a news article, aiming for a neutral, informative tone:
**Summary:**
The Tamil Nadu state government in India is launching a program to establish canteens in all government colleges. These canteens will be run by women’s self-help groups (SHGs) supported by the Tamil Nadu Corporation for Development of Women (TNCDW). The initiative aims to provide affordable and nutritious meals to students, many of whom currently lack access to food during the school day due to the remote locations of many government colleges. The first phase will cover 269 campuses, with plans to expand to government-aided institutions later. The decision was based on a study by the Tamil Nadu State Council for Higher Education, which organized consultations with students, staff, and parents.
**News Article:**
**Tamil Nadu Colleges to Get Canteens Run by Women’s Self-Help Groups**
**Chennai, India – September 23, 2025** – The Tamil Nadu government has announced a new initiative to establish canteens in all government colleges across the state. The program will be implemented in partnership with the Tamil Nadu Corporation for Development of Women (TNCDW), which will provide support to women’s self-help groups (SHGs) tasked with running the canteens.
The first phase of the program will focus on 269 campuses, including government arts and science, polytechnic, teachers education, and engineering colleges. Institutions have been instructed to allocate space and basic amenities such as water, electricity, and waste management services for the canteens. Menu options and pricing will be determined collaboratively between college principals, student representatives, and SHG members.
The Tamil Nadu State Council for Higher Education (TANSCHE) conducted regional consultations with stakeholders to better understand the college canteen needs. The initiative was born out of these consultations, during which students expressed difficulty in securing affordable meals during the school day.
“During the consultations, many students revealed that they came to college without breakfast and remained so till they went back home in the afternoon,” said M.P. Vijayakumar, Vice-Chairman, TANSCHE. “Government colleges were started on sites where land was available, and hence, many colleges were situated away from the city or town. There were barely any eateries around, which left them with no option. Students should have access to nutritious meals. It is a necessity,”
TANSCHE has directed the Directorates of Technical and Collegiate Education to inform all colleges of these instructions. Colleges will have the flexibility to determine the size and facilities of the canteens. A student feedback system will be implemented to monitor quality and hygiene.
The TNCDW will provide training to the SHG members on canteen management, nutritious food preparation, and hygiene standards. District Project Officers of the Mahalir Thittam program will coordinate operations and facilitate loan disbursement to the SHGs. The government plans to extend the canteen program to government-aided institutions in the future.
First Piper 