📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Ginevrajocosa88
Education
Chief Minister Vijay expands school breakfast programme across the state
✍️ Hindustan Times
🗓 22 Sep 2026, 06:36 PM
👁 14
CM Vijay inaugurated an expanded breakfast scheme aimed at providing meals to more schoolchildren, marking a significant boost to the state's nutrition drive.
Chief Minister Vijay launched an enlarged version of the state’s school breakfast scheme on Monday, extending free morning meals to an additional 200,000 students in primary and upper primary schools. The programme, which began as a pilot in select districts, will now cover all government‑run schools and a larger share of private institutions that receive government aid.
The expanded scheme is part of the government’s broader effort to improve child nutrition and attendance, with officials saying that regular breakfast can enhance learning outcomes and reduce dropout rates. Officials estimate the initiative will cost roughly 1.2 billion rupees annually, funded through the state’s education budget and central assistance.
During the inauguration, CM Vijay highlighted that the scheme will provide a balanced menu of cereals, milk and fruits, prepared under strict quality standards. He urged school administrators and parents to ensure children attend regularly to reap the health benefits.
The rollout will be monitored by the Education Department, which will conduct periodic audits to verify compliance with nutritional guidelines. The government plans to release quarterly reports on enrollment and health indicators linked to the programme.
Stakeholders, including teachers’ unions and child welfare NGOs, welcomed the move, noting that it addresses long‑standing concerns about child hunger in rural and urban areas alike.
The expanded scheme is part of the government’s broader effort to improve child nutrition and attendance, with officials saying that regular breakfast can enhance learning outcomes and reduce dropout rates. Officials estimate the initiative will cost roughly 1.2 billion rupees annually, funded through the state’s education budget and central assistance.
During the inauguration, CM Vijay highlighted that the scheme will provide a balanced menu of cereals, milk and fruits, prepared under strict quality standards. He urged school administrators and parents to ensure children attend regularly to reap the health benefits.
The rollout will be monitored by the Education Department, which will conduct periodic audits to verify compliance with nutritional guidelines. The government plans to release quarterly reports on enrollment and health indicators linked to the programme.
Stakeholders, including teachers’ unions and child welfare NGOs, welcomed the move, noting that it addresses long‑standing concerns about child hunger in rural and urban areas alike.