State Minister for Primary and Mass Education Bobby Hajjaj today said providing mid-day meals to schoolchildren is not an act of charity or favour, but a fundamental right of every child.

"The main objective of the school feeding programme is to improve children's health, ensure regular attendance and enhance their learning capacity by providing nutritious food," he said.

He was speaking at an orientation programme for head teachers and a discussion on improving the quality of primary education, organised today at a local hotel in Khulna under the "Feeding Programme in Government Primary Schools" project, said a press release received here.

Bobby Hajjaj said ensuring nutrition and education for every child is the government's responsibility and warned that no irregularity, negligence or supply of substandard food would be tolerated in implementing the programme.

He said the participation of teachers, parents and local communities in ensuring transparency and accountability in the programme would be further strengthened.

Referring to Prime Minister Tarique Rahman's vision, the state minister said the school feeding programme is playing an effective role in achieving the two key goals of primary education set by the Prime Minister - "No child will remain out of school" and "Every child will be properly educated."