Tamil Nadu government renames CM Breakfast Scheme after Kamaraj

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Students of Corporation Primary School Aathimoolam II, having breakfast during the inauguration of Chief Ministers Breakfast Scheme, in Madurai on September 15, 2022 | Photo Credit: R. Ashok

The Tamil Nadu government has issued an order renaming the Chief Minister’s Breakfast Scheme after former Chief Minister K. Kamaraj. The scheme will henceforth be known as the Perunthalaivar Kamarajar Breakfast Scheme.

The Breakfast Scheme for students in Classes I to V in government and government-aided schools was launched during the previous DMK regime in September 2022. After the TVK-led government assumed office, Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay directed that the scheme be expanded to cover students in Classes VI to VIII in government and government-aided schools as well.

A Government Order to this effect was issued by the Department of Social Welfare and Women Empowerment on July 15, the birth anniversary of Kamaraj, and circulated on Wednesday.

Is TN’s breakfast scheme populist or pertinent?

At present, the scheme benefits 19,34,230 students studying in Classes I to V in 37,447 government and government-aided schools. The expanded scheme will cover 15,14,274 students studying in Classes VI to VIII in 15,454 government and government-aided schools across the State. This includes 8,787 schools where the scheme is already being implemented for Classes I to V and 6,667 schools that have Classes VI and above.

It has been estimated that the expanded scheme will incur an additional expenditure of ₹343.55 crore. The State government has also sanctioned ₹217.63 crore for the current financial year for the expanded component of the scheme.

The expanded Breakfast Scheme will be rolled out from September 17, the birth anniversary of social reformer Periyar E.V. Ramasamy.

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