Chennai: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay on Tuesday launched the expanded Perunthalaivar Kamarajar Free Breakfast Scheme, bringing students of Classes 6 to 8 under the state's free morning meal programme.

Vijay launched the expanded scheme at the Government Middle School in Gandhi Gramam, Thiruvanmiyur, Chennai. He interacted with students and distributed breakfast to them during the launch.

The scheme was earlier available to students from Classes 1 to 5. With the expansion, around 15.30 lakh additional students studying in Classes 6 to 8 will benefit across 15,454 government and government-aided schools in Tamil Nadu.

The state government has allocated an additional Rs 217.63 crore for the expansion during the current financial year, taking the total allocation for the breakfast programme to Rs 724 crore.
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The programme, earlier known as the Chief Minister's Breakfast Scheme, has been renamed the Perunthalaivar Kamarajar Free Breakfast Scheme in honour of former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Kamaraj. He played a significant role in expanding access to school education and strengthening the state's school meal initiatives.

The expanded programme is being rolled out across Tamil Nadu from Tuesday. However, implementation has been deferred in Chengalpattu and Tiruppur districts due to the Model Code of Conduct in force in view of the upcoming Assembly by-elections.
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The breakfast scheme is aimed at providing nutritional support to schoolchildren and addressing classroom hunger. The state government has also highlighted its role in helping improve school attendance and enabling students to concentrate better on their studies.

With Tuesday's expansion, the programme now extends its free morning meal support beyond primary school students to those in Classes 6 to 8 as well.

(With agency inputs)