Manipal University will conduct a comprehensive study on the impact of midday meals on school students in Dakshina Kannada, Mysore, Hubli and Bellary districts soon.

Addressing at a workshop on midday meals organized by the Akshaya Patra Foundation at zilla panchayat hall here on Saturday, Manipal University public health department head Ramachandra Kamath said the study has already been started in 10 schools in Mangalore, he said, adding that the main objective of conducting study is to ascertain the nutritional and health status of children, who consume midday meals.

Delivering the inaugural address, higher education minister V S Acharya said infant mortality rate is very less in coastal districts compared to other districts in the nation. While the infant mortality rate is 7.8 deaths per 1,000 children in other districts, the coastal belt has recorded only 5.6 per 1,000 children, he said and pointed out that the population of Udupi and Dakshina Kannada districts have decreased by 25% and 20% respectively.