School Breakfast Scheme: Vijay Expands Free Breakfast Scheme to Classes 6 to 8 in Tamil Nadu

School Breakfast Scheme: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay on Tuesday launched the expanded Perunthalaivar Kamarajar Breakfast Scheme for students in Classes 6 to 8. The programme was inaugurated at a government middle school in Gandhi Gramam, Tiruvanmiyur, Chennai. During the launch, Vijay personally served breakfast to students and later sat with them for the meal.

The expansion brings around 15.30 lakh additional students under the free breakfast programme. It will cover students studying in Classes 6 to 8 across 15,454 government and government aided schools in Tamil Nadu. The scheme had earlier been available to students in Classes 1 to 5.

The state government has allocated an additional Rs 217.63 crore for the expanded programme during the current financial year. With this additional allocation, the overall budget for the breakfast scheme has reached Rs 724 crore.

The programme has also undergone a name change. It was previously known as the Chief Minister’s Breakfast Scheme and has now been renamed the Perunthalaivar Kamarajar Breakfast Scheme. The new name honours former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Kamaraj, who is widely associated with efforts to expand access to education in the state.

The government says the main purpose of the programme is to ensure that children do not attend school on an empty stomach. Providing a nutritious breakfast is also intended to support their health and help them concentrate better during classes.

At the launch event, Vijay interacted with students after serving them breakfast. The menu includes traditional South Indian dishes such as pongal and sambar, along with a sweet item. The government is also considering adding more food choices to the programme.

The expanded scheme will be implemented through different arrangements depending on the location. In Chennai, integrated kitchens will prepare meals for hundreds of government and government aided schools. Similar kitchen facilities will be used in other urban areas, while arrangements in rural regions will involve schools and self help groups.

Officials have also been instructed to pay attention to hygiene and cleanliness in kitchens and serving areas as the programme expands. The wider rollout is expected to increase the reach of the breakfast initiative among middle school students across the state.

The expansion comes as the Tamil Nadu government seeks to extend nutritional support beyond primary school students. With Classes 6 to 8 now included, a significantly larger number of children will receive a free morning meal at school.

For many families, the programme means students can begin their school day with a cooked breakfast without the additional expense of arranging a morning meal. The government has linked the initiative to student nutrition, school attendance and better focus on education.

The expanded programme is being rolled out across the state from Tuesday, although implementation has been excluded for the time being in Chengalpattu and Tirupur districts because of the Model Code of Conduct connected to upcoming Assembly bypolls.