Tamil Nadu Expands Breakfast Scheme to Aided Schools

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin launched the expansion of the breakfast scheme for primary school children to include state-aided private schools. This initiative, marking the birth anniversary of late Chief Minister K Kamaraj, aims to benefit over 21 lakh children, ensuring nutritious breakfasts and reducing economic burden on parents.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin on Monday inaugurated the expansion of the breakfast scheme for primary school children to include state-aided private schools in rural regions. The launch, coinciding with the birth anniversary of late Chief Minister K Kamaraj, observed as 'Kalvi Valarchi Naal' (Education Development Day), took place in a school in Tiruvallur district where Stalin served and dined with the children to check food quality.

The initiative is set to benefit 2,23,536 children in 3,995 government-aided primary schools statewide. Including students from government-aided institutions, over 20.73 lakh children will receive nutritious breakfasts daily. Stalin emphasized that the breakfast scheme reduces economic strain on parents, boosts students' self-confidence, improves attendance, and decreases dropout rates.

Stalin addressed the importance of maintaining high-quality food for children and encouraged officials to conduct surprise inspections to ensure standards. This expansion reflects the Dravidian model regime's successful implementation, gaining acclaim even beyond India in places like Canada. The scheme, initially covering 1.14 lakh students from 1,545 schools in 2022, now aims to support 21 lakh students across 30,992 state-run and aided primary schools starting August 25, 2023.