Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay will launch the extension of 'Perunthalaivar Kamaraj Breakfast Scheme' for students of classes 6, 7 and 8 at a government school in Chennai on September 22. With the expansion of this scheme, 15.30 lakh more children across the state will benefit from it.
The scheme will be inaugurated at the Government Middle School located at Gandhi Gramam, Thiruvanmiyur. Vijay will formally serve breakfast to the students and launch the scheme statewide. The Greater Chennai Corporation and the Social Welfare Department are making elaborate arrangements for the event.
This breakfast program was initially launched for primary school children studying in classes 1 to 5 in government schools. The aim is to ensure that children do not come to class on an empty stomach, as well as to improve their attendance, concentration and overall engagement in education.
Announcing the expansion of the scheme, CM Vijay had said that it would also include students from classes 6 to 8, especially those who come from poor and middle-income families. The government believes that this extension will provide nutritional support at a crucial stage of school education and reduce the risk of students dropping out of school due to financial constraints.
The launch location was changed during the expansion of the plan. Initially this mega program was expected to be inaugurated in Virudhunagar, but later it was proposed to be launched in Perambur. The Chief Minister has now confirmed that its official inauguration will take place on September 22 at a school in Thiruvanmiyur.
Under this extension, about 15.30 lakh students studying in about 15,454 government and government-aided middle schools across Tamil Nadu will be eligible for breakfast. The state government has allocated an additional Rs 217.63 crore for this program during the current financial year. With this new allocation the total value of the breakfast scheme has increased to Rs 724 crore.
Officials said the broader scope will strengthen the government's efforts to tackle hunger in the classroom and promote equal educational opportunities among children from different socio-economic backgrounds.
Parents of students in government schools have welcomed the extension and see it as a practical help for families facing rising household expenses.