The Tamil Nadu government has renamed its school breakfast program to the Perunthalaivar Kamarajar Breakfast Scheme, in tribute to former Chief Minister K. Kamaraj. This initiative will now benefit students in Classes VI to VIII in government and government-aided schools across the state. The scheme, originally for Classes I to V, was expanded by Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay to include middle school students, with over 15 lakh students set to benefit.
The program currently supports over 19 lakh students in primary classes across thousands of schools. With the recent expansion, an additional 15 lakh students in middle school will be covered. This move aims to enhance child nutrition, boost attendance, and ensure students start their day with a healthy meal for better learning outcomes and overall well-being. The government estimates an extra expenditure of Rs 343.55 crore for this extension.
The Perunthalaivar Kamarajar Breakfast Scheme’s expanded version is scheduled for launch on September 17, coinciding with social reformer Periyar E. V. Ramasamy’s birth anniversary. This step is seen as a significant move to strengthen school nutrition programs in Tamil Nadu, acknowledging the contributions of influential leaders to social welfare and education. The scheme is expected to become one of the country’s largest school nutrition initiatives, complementing the state’s existing noon meal program and benefiting millions of children daily.
