Produced by SBS Dateline and distributed by Journeyman Pictures, India's Free Lunch explores India's innovative state school lunch program.

Since 2001, all Indian primary schools have provided pupils with a free midday meal. As a result, truancy rates have been slashed and child health is soaring. Western governments are taking note.

"Compared to ours, today's generation is better off," explains a cook at one school. Vijay Bhaskar, food administrator in Karnataka, agrees and reveals, "The number of children out of school has reduced from 1 million to 70,000." The scheme has also staved off the junk food industry, as Bhaskar comments, "Any person who has seen children eating a hot meal knows that no cookie can substitute."