Tamil Nadu BJP president Nainar Nagenthran criticized the TVK-led State government for distributing biscuits instead of nutritious meals under the government’s Breakfast Scheme at a primary school in Thoothukudi district. Nagenthran stated that this incident highlighted the government’s failure to effectively implement a program aimed at addressing hunger among schoolchildren and enhancing educational outcomes. The criticism follows reports that around 40 students at a primary school in Vilathikulam were given biscuit packets due to the school’s inability to provide the regular breakfast as per the scheme.
Questioning the government’s management of the program, the BJP leader emphasized that the Breakfast Scheme was initially designed to ensure that economically disadvantaged children could attend school without studying on an empty stomach. Nagenthran expressed disappointment in the government, led by Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay, for not properly executing a welfare initiative intended to help impoverished and underprivileged students study well without hunger. He dismissed claims that the shortage of food was due to an unexpected rise in the number of students benefiting from the scheme, insisting that such logistical challenges should have been foreseen and resolved in advance.
Nagenthran called on the State government to investigate the incident and promptly implement corrective actions to prevent similar occurrences in schools across Tamil Nadu. The Breakfast Scheme, a key welfare project in the State, aims to offer nutritious morning meals to government school students, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds. The program is promoted as a means to enhance attendance, alleviate classroom hunger, and support educational achievements. The incident in Thoothukudi has drawn political censure, with the BJP criticizing the government for administrative deficiencies and demanding enhanced accountability in the execution of welfare programs for schoolchildren.
