Hyderabad, July 4: Students from classes I to X in state schools will get free mid-day meals from August. At present, only students from class I to VII are getting mid-day meals and the state government has decided to extend the scheme to all classes from this academic year. Teachers unions and academics have long been demanding that the scheme be extended to all classes as is the practice in Tamil Nadu. It was unfair that students from classes VIII to X were denied mid-day meals, they argued. Though the Centre is sponsoring the scheme only for classes I to V, the state government decided to extend it to class VI and VII in the previous academic year. This was because the scheme was ensuring higher enrolment and lower dropouts in state schools. "We have identified that the disparities in mid-day meals scheme were one of the reasons for dropouts in higher classes," said Mr P. Bhanu Murthy, director of school education. "Most children in state schools are from poor families. Providing free meals to all of them will have a positive impact." He said the government has allotted Rs 853 crore for the mid-day meal scheme this year. At present, 66 lakh students are benefiting from the scheme and another 27 lakh will get the meals from August.