City school bars food delivery via apps to students

On Thursday, Chettinad Hari Shree Vidyalayam issued a notice for Classes 2 to 12 stating that food ordered by parents through apps would be sent back.

The notice read, “It has been brought to our notice that parents order food through Swiggy and Uber Eats to be delivered in school for their children during lunch breaks. This will not be entertained, and the ordered food will be sent back. The reception has been instructed not to accept these deliveries”.

While several schools say that it is unhealthy to encourage such practice, they add that it jeopardises the safety of kids while receiving food from the delivery people. “It is not safe to encourage the practice especially after children have entered the campus. We mention the norms in the circular issued to the parents at the time of admission itself. The students should bring their own food and we cannot allow delivery alternatives over safety concerns,” said Amudha Lakshmi, principal, Chettinad Vidyashram.

Supporting the move to prohibit delivery of food through apps for students, the principal of SBOA School and Junior College, Radhika Unni, said that students need nutritious food during their growing years and delivery of food via apps will lead to unhealthy habits. “We do not allow the sale of junk food on the campus either,” Unni added.

Delivery of food from strangers would be highly unsafe, say school authorities. “Strangers cannot be allowed to deliver anything to students,” said Prijita Philip, teacher, Sishya School.