Key Highlights:

  • CM Vijay launched the expanded breakfast scheme, extending it to Classes VI-VIII across government and government-aided schools.
  • The expansion adds 15.30 lakh students, bringing total beneficiaries to 34.64 lakh children in 44,984 schools.
  • The state allocated an additional Rs 217.63 crore, with the scheme excluded from two constituencies holding bye-elections.
  • Originally launched in 2022 by then CM M.K. Stalin, the programme was renamed after TVK took office.
  • The weekly menu includes upma, khichdi, pongal and a sweet dish, with officials directed to ensure hygiene and nutrition standards.

Expanding Free Breakfast to More Students

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay on Tuesday launched the expanded Perunthalaivar Kamaraj Breakfast Scheme, extending free morning meals to students of Classes VI to VIII in government and government-aided schools across the state.

Where the Launch Took Place

Vijay inaugurated the expansion at the Corporation Middle School in Gandhigram, Thiruvanmiyur, Chennai, where he served pongal to students before sitting with them and having breakfast himself, a hands-on gesture that added a personal touch to the formal launch event.

Scale of the Expansion

The expansion will bring an additional 15.30 lakh students under the programme. Overall, 34.64 lakh children studying in 44,984 government and government-aided schools will now benefit from the scheme, marking a substantial increase in the programme's overall reach.

Funding and Coverage Details

The State government has allocated an additional Rs 217.63 crore for implementing the expanded programme. It has been introduced in all districts except the Madurantakam constituency in Chengalpattu district and Dharapuram in Tiruppur district, where Assembly bye-elections are scheduled, an exclusion likely tied to electoral code restrictions during the poll period in those constituencies.

The Scheme's Origins

The breakfast programme was originally introduced in 2022 by then Chief Minister M.K. Stalin during the DMK government. It was initially intended for students of Classes I to V in government schools and was subsequently extended to government-aided institutions, reflecting a gradual, phased expansion of the programme since its inception.

The Programme's Core Objectives

The programme was designed to combat malnutrition among children, improve school attendance and encourage students to continue their education without dropping out, addressing several interconnected challenges within the state's education and public health landscape through a single intervention.

Coverage Before This Latest Expansion

Before the latest expansion, the scheme covered 19.34 lakh students studying in 37,447 government and government-aided schools, meaning this latest phase nearly doubles the number of students receiving free breakfast under the programme.

A Renamed Scheme Under the New Government

After the TVK government assumed office, the programme was renamed the Perunthalaivar Kamaraj Breakfast Scheme. Vijay later announced that it would be extended to Classes VI, VII and VIII, marking a continuation of the scheme's expansion under the new administration despite the change in political leadership.

A Delayed Launch Date

The launch had initially been scheduled for September 17, coinciding with social reformer Periyar E.V. Ramasamy's birth anniversary, a symbolically significant date given Periyar's association with social reform in Tamil Nadu. It was postponed to September 22 because Vijay was visiting London to attract industrial investments to Tamil Nadu, indicating that his international engagements took precedence over the originally planned symbolic launch date.

The Weekly Meal Menu

Under the prescribed weekly menu, students will be served upma on Monday, khichdi on Tuesday, pongal on Wednesday, upma on Thursday and a sweet dish on Friday, providing a varied but consistent breakfast rotation across the school week.

Ensuring Quality and Hygiene

Authorities have been instructed to ensure that the food is nutritious and prepared in hygienic conditions, a directive aimed at maintaining consistent standards across the tens of thousands of schools now covered under the expanded scheme.

Ongoing Oversight Measures

CM Vijay also directed officials to conduct regular inspections of kitchens and dining areas, maintain cleanliness and closely monitor the quality and timely distribution of meals to students, underscoring a continued emphasis on operational oversight as the programme scales up to serve a significantly larger number of students across the state.