Breakfast Scheme Renamed After Kamaraj as Tamil Nadu Extends Benefits to Middle Schoolers

The Tamil Nadu government has renamed the previous DMK regime's Chief Minister's Breakfast Scheme as the Perunthalaivar Kamarajar Breakfast Scheme, honouring former Chief Minister and Congress leader K Kamaraj for his contribution to education and school nutrition.

The decision was announced on July 15, coinciding with Kamaraj's birth anniversary. Kamaraj is widely credited with transforming Tamil Nadu's education sector and introducing a school mid-day meal programme in 1956 to tackle poverty, improve children's nutrition and encourage school enrolment.

The initiative was later expanded under successive governments. Former Chief Minister M G Ramachandran transformed it into the Puratchi Thalaivar MGR Nutritious Meal Programme in 1982, while the administrations of M Karunanidhi and J Jayalalithaa further strengthened its nutritional components.

The previous DMK government, led by M K Stalin, launched the Chief Minister's Breakfast Scheme in 2022, initially covering students from Classes 1 to 5. The Tamil Nadu government has now expanded the programme to include Classes 6 to 8 in government and aided schools. The expanded coverage will begin on September 17, marking the birth anniversary of social reformer Periyar E V Ramasamy.

The expansion is expected to benefit an additional 15.14 lakh students, taking the total number of beneficiaries to around 35 lakh. The state has approved an additional expenditure of Rs 343.55 crore, including Rs 217.63 crore for the current financial year.

The scheme currently covers 37,447 schools, providing nutritious breakfasts such as upma, kichadi and pongal on weekdays, with rava kesari served on Fridays. Millet-based meals provide around 293 calories and 9.85 grams of protein, along with iron and calcium.

DMK leader Duraimurugan criticised the renaming, saying there was nothing wrong with honouring Kamaraj but accusing the government of rebranding existing welfare schemes instead of introducing new initiatives. He cited the DMK's decision to retain Amma Unavagam, arguing that political leaders should show magnanimity towards welfare programmes launched by previous governments.