Tamil Nadu Breakfast Scheme: Vijay Expands Free Morning Meals To Classes 6-8; Check The Menu | Chennai-news News
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Tamil Nadu has expanded its breakfast programme to Classes 6-8, bringing millions more students under its coverage. Here is what is on the menu and how the scheme will work
Chennai News Today: At Tuesday’s launch in Thiruvanmiyur, Vijay personally served breakfast to the students before sitting down and eating with them.
Chennai News: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay on Tuesday, September 22, launched the expanded Perunthalaivar Kamarajar Breakfast Scheme for students of Classes 6 to 8 in government and government-aided schools across the state.
The launch took place at the Chennai Middle School in Gandhi Gramam, Thiruvanmiyur, Chennai, where CM Vijay served breakfast to students and later sat with them to eat.
Breakfast Scheme To Benefit 15.30 Lakh More Students Across Tamil Nadu
The expanded scheme is expected to benefit around 15.30 lakh additional students studying in 15,454 government and government-aided schools. The Tamil Nadu government has allocated an additional Rs 217.63 crore for the expansion during the 2026-2027 financial year, taking the total allocation for the breakfast programme to Rs 724 crore.
The breakfast programme was originally launched by then Chief Minister MK Stalin at a government school in Madurai on September 15, 2022, on the birth anniversary of former Chief Minister Perarignar Anna. It was introduced with the stated objective of improving students’ nutrition and health, attendance and ability to concentrate on their studies. The programme was subsequently extended to government-aided schools.
Under the current expansion, the programme has been renamed the Perunthalaivar Kamarajar Breakfast Scheme and extended to students in Classes 6 to 8. The wider rollout means that the scheme now covers students beyond the earlier primary-school classes, with the government linking the provision of breakfast to nutrition, school attendance and learning outcomes.
Vijay Serves Breakfast To Students At Launch Event
At Tuesday’s launch in Thiruvanmiyur, Vijay personally served breakfast to the students before sitting down and eating with them. Reports from the event said he waited for the students to finish their prayer before beginning his meal with them.
The first-day breakfast served at the launch included ven pongal, sambar and sakkarai pongal. The existing programme has a wider rotating menu that includes upma and pongal-based dishes, along with sweet items.
Millet-based options are also included in the menu at least twice a week.
What’s On The Breakfast Menu?
| Food Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Rava Upma | Part of the existing breakfast rotation |
| Semiya Upma | Served under the existing menu |
| Semiya Vegetable Khichdi | Vegetable-based breakfast option |
| Vegetable Rice Khichdi | Included in the rotating menu |
| Wheat Rava Khichdi | Another breakfast option |
| Vegetable Sambar Rice | Rice-based meal served under the scheme |
| Ven Pongal | One of the traditional breakfast options |
| Sweet Pongal | Sweet dish included in the menu |
| Semiya Kesari | Sweet item served as part of the rotation |
| Millet-Based Options | Included at least twice a week, according to the scheme’s menu guidelines |
The government has also constituted a committee to consider adding new food items to the expanded breakfast programme.
The expansion was initially scheduled to be launched on September 17 but was postponed to September 22. The government had said the delay was linked to Vijay’s official visit to London.
Chengalpattu, Tiruppur Excluded From Breakfast Scheme Rollout For Now
The programme is being rolled out across Tamil Nadu, with the exception of Chengalpattu and Tiruppur, where the Model Code of Conduct is in force in connection with upcoming Assembly by-elections. The government had instructed officials in the remaining districts to ensure preparations were completed for the September 22 launch.
In Chennai, the expanded programme is being implemented through integrated kitchens serving 447 government and government-aided schools. In other corporations, municipalities and adjoining areas, integrated kitchens will cater to 2,150 schools, while 12,857 schools in rural and township areas will be covered through arrangements involving local kitchens and self-help groups.
Self-Help Groups To Prepare And Serve Breakfast Under Scheme
The government has also instructed officials to maintain cleanliness and hygiene in kitchens and food-serving areas and to continuously monitor implementation. Self-help group members are involved in preparing and serving breakfast in the respective schools under the implementation arrangements.
With the latest expansion, the breakfast programme is intended to reach a significantly larger section of students in Tamil Nadu’s government and government-aided school system. The state government has positioned the initiative as a measure linking access to a morning meal with students’ nutrition, attendance and educational participation.
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Ask News18Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay expanded the Perunthalaivar Kamarajar Breakfast Scheme to include students of Classes 6 to 8 in government and government-aided schools across Tamil Nadu on September 22, 2026.
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September 22, 2026, 12:00 IST
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