Chennai, Sep 22: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay launched the expanded Perunthalaivar Kamarajar Breakfast Scheme on Tuesday at the Government Middle School in Gandhi Gramam, Thiruvanmiyur, Chennai.
The free breakfast scheme, which earlier covered students from Classes 1 to 5, will now also include students from Classes 6 to 8 in government and government-aided schools across Tamil Nadu.
The expansion will benefit around 15.30 lakh additional students in 15,454 schools. The state government has allocated an additional ₹217.63 crore for the scheme this financial year, taking the total budget to ₹724 crore.
The scheme, earlier called the Chief Minister’s Breakfast Scheme, has been renamed after former Chief Minister and Congress leader K. Kamaraj, who played an important role in expanding school education and school meal programmes in Tamil Nadu.
The expanded scheme will be implemented across the state from Tuesday, except in Chengalpattu and Tiruppur districts, where the rollout has been postponed due to the Model Code of Conduct ahead of the Assembly by-elections.
The government has instructed district officials to ensure proper arrangements, including cleanliness and hygiene in kitchens and food-serving areas.
The scheme aims to improve children’s nutrition, ensure they attend school without hunger and help them concentrate better on their studies.
