Tamil Nadu Renames Breakfast Scheme After Kamaraj, Extends It to Classes VI–VIII
Tamil Nadu has renamed its school breakfast programme the Perunthalaivar Kamarajar Breakfast Scheme and expanded it to Classes VI–VIII, adding 15.14 lakh students at an extra cost of ₹343.55 crore.
The Tamil Nadu government has renamed its school breakfast programme after former Chief Minister K. Kamaraj. An order issued by the Department of Social Welfare and Women Empowerment on July 15, the late leader's birth anniversary, and circulated on Wednesday gives the scheme the name Perunthalaivar Kamarajar Breakfast Scheme.
The programme was introduced in September 2022, during the previous DMK government, for students of Classes I to V in government and government-aided schools. After the TVK-led government took charge, Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay directed that it be extended to Classes VI to VIII in the same categories of schools.
The scheme currently reaches 19,34,230 students in Classes I to V across 37,447 government and government-aided schools. The expansion will bring in 15,14,274 more students in Classes VI to VIII, spread over 15,454 schools. This includes 8,787 schools where the programme already operates for Classes I to V and 6,667 schools that have Classes VI and above.
The widened scheme is expected to cost an additional ₹343.55 crore. The State government has sanctioned ₹217.63 crore for the expanded component during the current financial year.
The extended programme will begin on September 17, the birth anniversary of social reformer Periyar E.V. Ramasamy.