Tamil Nadu expands free breakfast scheme to Classes 6 to 8, 15.3 lakh students to benefit

Tamil Nadu has expanded its free breakfast programme to students in Classes 6 to 8, bringing around 15.30 lakh additional students under the scheme.

Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay launched the expanded Perunthalaivar Kamarajar Breakfast Scheme at a government middle school in Gandhi Gramam, Thiruvanmiyur, Chennai, on Tuesday. The programme was earlier available to students in Classes 1 to 5.

15,454 schools covered

The latest expansion covers students in Classes 6 to 8 across 15,454 government and government-aided schools in Tamil Nadu.

With the extension to middle-school students, the free breakfast programme now covers Classes 1 through 8 in participating schools.

The state government has allocated an additional ₹217.63 crore for the expansion during the current financial year. This takes the total allocation for the breakfast programme to ₹724 crore.

How the programme will be implemented

In Chennai, the Greater Chennai Corporation will operate the programme through integrated kitchens serving 447 government and aided schools.

The Directorate of Municipal Administration will oversee implementation in 2,150 schools in other urban areas, while the Tamil Nadu Women’s Development Corporation will handle the programme in 12,857 schools in rural and adjoining areas.

The breakfast menu includes items such as upma, khichdi and pongal, with millet-based dishes included in the weekly menu.

The expansion is intended to extend access to a morning meal to middle-school students and support the nutritional needs of children attending government and government-aided schools.