Brasilia - Students enrolled in Indian schools around the country are going to be getting a better school lunch as a result of a partnership deal joining the Ministry of Food Security and Hunger Combat, and the Ministry of Education. The partnership will increase the program budget by R$9.8 million annually, practically tripling the amount spent for each student meal, from R$0.13 to R$0.34. It will increase the number of days school lunches are served from 200 to 250. The program will also respect different eating habits of different Indian groups.

The National School Lunch Program feeds 115,000 Indian students in 1,600 schools in 275 municipalities located in 22 states. "Changes in the way the program is managed and purchases are made will also take place," explains Sergio Paganini, the secretary of Food Security Programs. (AB)