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Tamil Nadu expands breakfast scheme to government-aided schools

The move will benefit 2,23,536 children in 3,995 government-aided primary schools across the state, the government said.

South First Desk

Published Jul 15, 2024 | 11:46 AM ⚊ Updated Jul 15, 2024 | 2:23 PM

Tamil Nadu breakfast scheme

Tamil Nadu breakfast scheme. (X)

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin on Monday, 15 July, launched the expansion of the breakfast scheme for primary school children to state-aided private schools.

Inaugurating the scheme at St Anne’s school in Tiruvallur district, Stalin sat alongside the children and served them food and also ate with them.

The scheme’s expansion also marks the birth anniversary of late Chief Minister K Kamaraj, which is observed as “Kalvi Valarchi Naal,” (Education Development Day) by the state government.

The move will benefit 2,23,536 children in 3,995 government-aided primary schools across the state, the government said.

Also Read: Amid ‘freebie culture’ debate, TN launches free breakfast scheme

The breakfast scheme

When the chief minister inaugurated the breakfast scheme on 15 September 2022, 1.14 lakh students in Classes 1 to 5 studying in 1,545 government primary schools were covered under the scheme.

With the expansion of the scheme across the state on 25 August 2023, about 18.50 lakh students in all the 30,992 state-run primary schools were brought under the initiative’s cover.

By bringing aided schools under the scheme’s ambit, in total, about 21.87 lakh students will be benefitted. Also, the scheme will be operational in both government and state-aided primary schools.

The Tamil Nadu government introduced the free breakfast scheme to reduce dropouts belonging to poor and underprivileged families. It is aimed to improve nutrition levels among the children of the economically disadvantaged sections.

Speaking in September 2022, during the launch of the scheme, Stalin said that the scheme would improve students learning skills and that it aims to alleviate the burden of hunger in children during any financial crisis in the families.

The positive impact of this programme extends far beyond filling empty stomachs. A recent study conducted by the State Planning Commission found a significant increase in attendance among government schools implementing the breakfast scheme.

According to the commission’s report, out of the 1,543 schools where children have been receiving breakfast since 15 September, 2022, 1,319 schools witnessed a remarkable rise in attendance during January and February, compared to June-July the previous year.

Related: Free breakfast scheme for govt primary students launched in TN

Quick rewind

The Chief Minister’s Breakfast Scheme is an extension of many pioneering schemes in Tamil Nadu.

The state has a long history of providing food to the school children —  an initiative that improved the attendance and reduced malnutrition among socially struggling children.

  • 1920: The then Mayor of Chennai Corporation, Sir PT Thiyagarayar, passed a resolution to implement the mid-day meal scheme in Corporation School at Thousand Lights, Chennai. The scheme saw an increase in the school’s student strength. The scheme was expanded to a few more schools
  • 1947: Due to financial constraints, the mid-day meal scheme was abandoned, except in Harijan Welfare Department-run schools.
  • 1957: Chief minister K Kamaraj resumed the mid-day meal scheme for primary school students. ₹10 lakh was allotted for implementing this scheme, with a clause that it should not exceeding ₹18 per child a year.
  • 1982: Chief minister MG Ramachandran introduced the Nutritious Meal Programme. Children in pre-school and primary schools were the beneficiaries.
  • 1989:  Chief minister M Karunanidhi included an egg every two weeks to the menu of the nutritious meal scheme.
  • 1998-2008: The egg count gradually increased from one per week to three per week. The Tamil Nadu government provided bananas for the children who would not eat eggs.
  • 2010: Egg count goes to five every week.

(With PTI inputs)

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