Vijay launches expansion of free breakfast scheme for Classes 6–8

Chennai, Sep 22 : Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay on Tuesday launched the expansion of the rechristened Perunthalaivar Kamarajar Free Breakfast Scheme to students of Classes 6 to 8, extending the programme beyond its earlier coverage of Classes 1 to 5.

The scheme was launched at a function held at the Government Middle School in Gandhi Gramam, Tiruvanmiyur, Chennai. Vijay personally served breakfast to students, interacted with them and joined them for the morning meal.

The Chief Minister had recently renamed the CM Breakfast Scheme after former Chief Minister and Congress stalwart K. Kamaraj, who is credited with pioneering the State's noon-meal programme for schoolchildren.

The expanded scheme was simultaneously rolled out across Tamil Nadu, except in Chengalpattu and Tiruppur districts, where the Model Code of Conduct is in force in view of the October 6 by-elections to the Madurantakam and Dharapuram Assembly constituencies.

The expansion will benefit an additional 15.30 lakh students studying in Classes 6 to 8 across 15,454 government and government-aided schools in the State.

The State government has allocated an additional Rs 217.63 crore during the current financial year for the expansion, taking the total allocation for the breakfast scheme to Rs 724 crore.

The programme is aimed at ensuring that students do not attend school hungry in the morning and are able to concentrate better on their studies. In Chennai, the expanded scheme will cover 447 schools.

In other urban areas, meals will be prepared through integrated kitchens, while in rural areas, food will be prepared at schools with the participation of self-help groups.

School Education Minister A. Rajmohan said the government was taking steps to ensure that students receive nutritious and quality food under the expanded programme.

He said a special committee would be constituted to finalise the menu and recommend suitable food items for students. Until the committee submits its recommendations, students would continue to be provided with quality food, he added.

Vijay has also directed officials to ensure that kitchens and serving areas are maintained hygienically and that the food served to students is hot, tasty and nutritious.

According to the State government, the expansion is intended to strengthen nutritional support for schoolchildren, encourage regular attendance, reduce dropouts and improve students' participation in education.