Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay reportedly expanded the Perunthalaivar Kamarajar Breakfast Scheme to government middle school students, extending free morning meals to Classes VI to VIII across the state.
The expansion is expected to bring about 15.30 lakh additional students under the programme. Vijay launched the extension at Government Middle School Gandhi Gramam in Thiruvanmiyur, Chennai, according to the event details supplied for the report.
Expansion reaches middle school students
The breakfast programme had previously focused on primary school students. The latest extension adds students in Classes VI, VII and VIII, widening the reach of the state-funded school meal programme.
At the Chennai launch, Vijay served sweet pongal to students and joined them for breakfast. The event also included interactions between the chief minister and children at the school.
The programme is named after former Tamil Nadu chief minister K. Kamaraj and forms part of the state's school nutrition measures. With middle school classes now included, the expansion increases the number of government school students covered by the breakfast programme.