CM Stalin’s Breakfast Scheme Now Benefits 88% Primary School Students

The Tamil Nadu government’s Chief Minister’s Breakfast Scheme has now reached an impressive 88% of primary school children studying in government and government-aided schools. Social Welfare Secretary Jayashree Muralidharan confirmed that more than 90% of rural students and nearly 85% of urban students are currently benefiting from the initiative.

The scheme, aimed at ensuring nutritional support for school children, will be further expanded from Tuesday, with Chief Minister MK Stalin formally launching the extension in Chennai. With this phase, the scheme will cover all government and aided schools, benefitting more than 20 lakh students in Tamil Nadu.

Speaking to the media, Revenue Secretary and government spokesperson P Amudha clarified that any extension of the scheme to middle schools would be a policy decision of the state government.

To support the expansion, the government has increased the number of kitchens across the state. Officials also highlighted that there has been no drop in mid-day meal participation due to the introduction of the breakfast program.

Jayashree noted that the scheme is being refined based on student feedback. For instance, rice upma, which many students disliked, has been replaced with pongal, a more popular choice among children.

The government has allocated Rs 600 crore for the implementation of this flagship welfare initiative, reflecting its commitment to improving nutrition, attendance, and learning outcomes among school children.