Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay on September 22 launched the expansion of the Perunthalaivar Kamarajar Breakfast Scheme to students of Classes 6 to 8 in government and government-aided schools across the state. During the launch in Chennai, Vijay served breakfast to students and later sat with them on the floor to share the meal.
The launch took place at a middle school in Gandhi Gramam, Thiruvanmiyur, Chennai. Students were served traditional breakfast items including pongal, sweet pongal and sambar. Vijay also interacted with the children and inspected classrooms during his visit.
Breakfast Scheme Extended to Classes 6-8
The latest expansion extends the breakfast programme to approximately 15.30 lakh additional students studying in Classes 6, 7 and 8. The programme will cover around 15,454 government and government-aided schools across Tamil Nadu.
The state government has allocated an additional ₹217.63 crore for the expansion during the 2026-27 financial year, taking the reported total budget for the scheme to approximately ₹724 crore. The initiative is intended to provide students with a nutritious morning meal while supporting health, school attendance and learning.
The breakfast menu is expected to include dishes such as upma, kichadi and pongal, with millet-based dishes planned twice a week. Officials have also indicated that the menu could be expanded with additional nutritious food items.
Vijay Shares Breakfast With Students
During the launch, Vijay not only served food to the students but also joined them for breakfast. Images and videos of the Chief Minister sitting on the floor alongside schoolchildren circulated widely online following the event.
The Chief Minister also spoke with students during the meal and interacted with them about their school experience. The launch event therefore combined the formal rollout of the expanded scheme with direct interaction between the Chief Minister and beneficiaries.
How the Scheme Will Be Implemented
The expanded programme will be implemented through different agencies depending on the location of schools. In Chennai, the Greater Chennai Corporation will oversee the programme through integrated kitchens serving government and aided schools. Other urban areas will be covered through municipal administration, while the Tamil Nadu Women’s Development Corporation will oversee implementation in rural areas.
The breakfast initiative was originally introduced in Tamil Nadu in 2022 and has since been expanded to cover more students. The current expansion brings middle-school students in Classes 6 to 8 into the programme under its new name, Perunthalaivar Kamarajar Breakfast Scheme.
The latest rollout places nutrition and school education at the centre of the state’s breakfast programme, with more than 15 lakh additional students expected to receive morning meals under the expanded coverage
