TN CM Stalin inaugurates expansion of breakfast scheme to govt aided schools in urban regions

Chennai: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin inaugurated here on Tuesday the expansion of the "Chief Minister's Breakfast Scheme," part of the flagship initiatives of the DMK government, to urban areas in the state. Stalin, along with his Punjab counterpart Bhagwant Mann, served food to children at St Joseph’s Primary School here, marking the launch of the scheme. Mann took part in the event as the chief guest. The expansion marks the 5th phase of the scheme's implementation, which is set to benefit 3.06 lakh more children belonging to 2,429 schools.

With the fresh launch today, a total of 20.59 lakh children will benefit from the CM's Breakfast Scheme in the state. The government said the dishes --Pongal, kichdi, or Upma along with dhal and sambar-- are cooked at a centralised kitchen in a hygienic manner and transported to schools by vans. In his inaugural address, Stalin traced the origin and evolution of providing food to school children in Tamil Nadu schools and recalled that over a century ago, during the Justice Party regime in Chennai, food was provided for the first time to a Chennai Corporation-run school. Later, during the tenure of late CM K Kamaraj, the noon meal scheme was implemented (1956-57) and in continuation of such initiatives, the Dravidian model government launched the breakfast scheme. The breakfast scheme was launched on September 15, 2022 by him after he learnt from his visit to a school that several children had not eaten anything in the morning.

In the first phase, 1,14,095 children belonging to 545 schools were benefited and subsequently, over the years, the scheme was gradually expanded. "After seeing the amazing results of the scheme and after evaluating its success, the scheme is extended to 3.06 lakh more children belonging to 2,429 schools in urban areas." Now, the total number of children covered under the scheme is 20,59,000 and they are studying in 37,416 government and state-aided schools. The CM said: "They are entering the class rooms with energy after eating hot, tasty and nutritious food and the scheme is implemented at an annual outlay of Rs 600 crore. I will not term this as an expenditure. This is a superb social investment. This is an investment that is going to bring unimaginable, manifold gains to the Tamil society in the future." He said he was closely monitoring the scheme's implementation and it has led to multi-fold improvements including development in the health of children and increase in attention and involvement in studies inside the classroom. When both the parents go to work, they need not worry about preparing food for their children and their burden is reduced. They have peace that their children eat well in the school. He further said: "From Dec 2023 to Dec 2025, in government schools, the health of children in government schools has improved. The incidence of visiting hospitals has reduced. Attendance has increased. There is improvement in learning skills. Nutrition deficiency has fallen and thus, there are several positive aspects and we have come to know all of this through studies." Certain states and some countries too were holding consultations to launch and implement the breakfast scheme and a developed economy like Canada has introduced the scheme. "It is a matter of pride that we are a model for them."

The chief minister listed other state schemes, including an initiative to ensure nutrition for babies and children, Rs 1,000 monthly financial assistance to women heads of families (1.14 crore beneficiaries), fare-free travel for women in buses and so on. He underscored the 11.19 percent double-digit economic growth of the state during 2024-25. The state should become number 1 in all sectors and that is his objective. To the children, the CM said: "Eat well, learn well, play well; your life will be good. All the best." He recalled that Arvind Kejriwal, as the chief minister of Delhi, took part in the 'Pudhumai Penn' (Rs 1,000 monthly assistance for girls to pursue higher education) launch event in 2022 and now Mann has participated in another Tamil Nadu government event. Later, in a social media post, the CM said: "The Chief Minister’s Breakfast Scheme in Tamil Nadu continues to inspire beyond our borders. Punjab CM Thiru. Bhagwant Mann honoured us by attending the CM Break Fast Scheme expansion event today, and I thank him warmly for his esteemed presence. After witnessing its impact here, he said that he would consider introducing a similar scheme in Punjab and hold discussions on it, and we are grateful for that. His words fill my heart with joy and pride, and I eagerly look forward to the day when it takes shape in Punjab." On May 6, 2022, the chief minister announced implementation of the free breakfast scheme for Class I to V students.