Stalin inaugurates expansion of Breakfast Scheme in Nagapattinam

CHENNAI; Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin on Friday launched the second phase of the 'CM’s Breakfast' scheme in government schools across the State.

Inaugurating the programme in Nagapattinam district, CM Stalin shared a meal with a group of students at Panchayat Union Middle School in Thirukkuvalai and also distributed chocolates among them.

“I believe today is the best day and am so proud to introduce this breakfast scheme here. Late Karunanidhi (former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu) has introduced and benefitted Thirukkuvalai with a lot of good schemes. As Karunanidhi's son, I am very proud to initiate this scheme here,” Stalin said while addressing the function.

He said that this scheme aims to reduce hunger, and added that hunger should not be a barrier to education.

“There is nothing more important than education and no one can take it away from us, so students should concentrate on studies. No one should miss education because of hunger that is why our government has allotted funds for this scheme. The government has invested funds to improve the knowledge and create motivation for the students, this investment will definitely be beneficial to the country,” CM said.

The Chief Minister also appealed to the officers and those who prepare the meals to take care of the students as they care for their own children.

“In the name of national education policy, in the name of NEET, there are treacherous rulers who put up barriers to education. A humble request to the officers and cooks, you should take care of the students here like how you would take care of your children at home,” he said.

Stalin also announced of launching a scheme for the welfare of women on the occasion of former CM Annadurai’s birth anniversary, next week. The scheme aims at providing financial assistance to them.

"With an aim to increase the attendance rate, to encourage students to attend school and that no student should attend class with hunger the breakfast scheme was initiated by the government. School attendance increased after this scheme was rolled out. Now this scheme has been expanded to around 31,000 schools which would benefit more than 18,50,000 students. 65,030 students studying across 358 schools of the Chennai Corporation will benefit from this scheme," Udhayanidhi Stalin said while speaking on occasion.

In Madurai, Tamil Nadu Information Technology and Digital Services Minister Palanivel Thiaga Rajan inaugurated the programme organised on the occasion.

As per the Daily Thanthi report, more than 17 lakh students studying in around 31,000 additional government schools are set to benefit from the scheme with an estimated expenditure of Rs 404 crore. Under the scheme, each student of a government primary school will now get 100 ml sambar with vegetables and 150 to 200 grams of food. The breakfast will be provided at least twice a week with millets available in the local markets and students will be served food from 8 am to 8.50 am.

Dishes like Rava Upma, Vermicili Upma, Rice Upma, Pongal (Rava/Ven Pongal), Wheat Rava Upma, sambar (vegetable) are recommended to be served to students. Sweets like Rava and Semiya Kesari are to be served on Fridays.

The TN CM has insisted that the cooked food should be served to the students only after the School Management Committee has tested and tasted the quality of the food. State, district, and school-level committees have been set up to monitor and ensure that breakfast is cooked and served in a clean and quality manner.

The CM’s breakfast scheme was launched by Stalin for students of Class I to V in government schools on CN Annadurai's 115th birth anniversary on September 15 (last year) at Aadhimoolam Corporation Primary School in Madurai. The scheme aimed at reducing the problem of malnutrition among students. The scheme will be implemented through the local bodies in different phases.

(With inputs from ANI)