CM inaugurates breakfast scheme for kids in Mylapore

BY OUR CORRESPONDENT

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin inaugurated the expansion of the "Chief

Minister's Breakfast Scheme" part of the flagship initiatives of the DMK

government, to urban areas in the state.

Stalin, along with his Punjab counterpart Bhagwant Mann, served food to

children at St Joseph's Primary School in Mylapore, marking the launch of

the scheme. Mann took part in the event as the chief guest.

The expansion marks the 5th phase of the scheme's implementation, which

is set to benefit 3.06 lakh more children belonging to 2,429 schools. With

the fresh launch today, a total of 20.59 lakh children will benefit from the

CM's Breakfast Scheme in the state.

The government said the dishes --Pongal, kichdi, or Upma along with dhal

and sambar-- are cooked at a centralized kitchen in a hygienic manner and

transported to schools by vans.

The breakfast scheme was launched on September 15, 2022 by him after he

learnt from his visit to a school that several children had not eaten anything

in the morning, he said

In the first phase, 1, 14,095 children belonging to 545 schools were

benefited and subsequently, over the years, the scheme was gradually

expanded.

"After seeing the amazing results of the scheme and after evaluating its

success, the scheme is extended to 3.06 lakh more children belonging to

2,429 schools in urban areas."

Now, the total number of children covered under the scheme is 20, 59,000

and they are studying in 37,416 government and state-aided schools.

The CM said: "They are entering the class rooms with energy after eating

hot, tasty and nutritious food and the scheme is implemented at an annual

outlay of Rs 600 Crores. I will not term this as expenditure. This is a superb

social investment. This is an investment that is going to bring unimaginable,

manifold gains to the Tamil society in the future."

He said he was closely monitoring the scheme's implementation and it has

led to multi-fold improvements including development in the health of

children and increase in attention and involvement in studies inside the

classroom.

When both the parents go to work, they need not worry about preparing

food for their children and their burden is reduced. They have peace that

their children eat well in the school.

He further said: "From Dec 2023 to Dec 2025, in government schools, the

health of children in government schools has improved. The incidence of

visiting hospitals has reduced. Attendance has increased. There is

improvement in learning skills. Nutrition deficiency has fallen and thus, there

are several positive aspects and we have come to know all of this through

studies."

Certain states and some countries too were holding consultations to launch

and implement the breakfast scheme and a developed economy like Canada

has introduced the scheme. "It is a matter of pride that we are a model for

them."

To the children, the CM said: "Eat well, learn well, play well; your life will be good. All the best." He recalled that Arvind Kejriwal, as the chief minister of Delhi, took part in the 'Pudhumai Penn' (Rs 1,000 monthly assistance for girls to pursue higher education) launch event in 2022 and now Mann has participated in another Tamil Nadu government event.

State Ministers – Geetha Jeevan, R S Raja Kannappan, P K Sekhar Babu, Ma

Subramanian; Mayor of Chennai R Priya, MPs Kanimozhi Karunanidhi Dr

Kalanidhi Veeraswamy and Thamizhachi Thangapandian, Mylapore MLA Dha

Velu and Chief Secretary N Muruganandam.