Food Fight: CM Vijay Launches Expanded Breakfast Scheme Amid TVK-DMK Spat Over Rebranding, Schoolbag Checks | India News
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The Tamil Nadu Chief Minister served sweet pongal to students and joined them for breakfast before inspecting classroom facilities
The launch event sparked sharp political exchanges between the ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) and the Opposition Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK). Image/X
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay on Tuesday launched the state-wide expansion of the flagship school morning-meal initiative, extending coverage to middle-school students across government and government-aided institutions.
The official rollout took place at Chennai Middle School in Gandhi Gramam, Thiruvanmiyur, where the Chief Minister served sweet pongal to students and joined them for breakfast before inspecting classroom facilities.
Expanded Reach and Financial Allocation
The newly expanded initiative, titled the Perunthalaivar Kamarajar Breakfast Scheme, widens the scope of the state’s flagship nutrition drive beyond primary levels to cover students in Classes 6 to 8.
Key operational and financial details of the expansion include:
- Student Coverage: The expansion benefits an additional 15.3 lakh students across 15,454 government and state-aided schools state-wide.
- Budget Outlay: An additional Rs 217.63 crore has been earmarked for the extension, elevating the scheme’s overall budget to Rs 724 crore.
- Execution Infrastructure: Meals are prepared through centralised kitchens under municipal corporations and local bodies, while self-help groups managed by the Tamil Nadu Corporation for Development of Women oversee operations in over 12,000 rural schools.
- Nutritional Focus: The rotating menu features items like pongal, rava kitchadi, and upma, with millet-based preparations incorporated twice a week to improve dietary quality.
Except for Chengalpattu and Tiruppur districts—where execution remains paused due to Model Code of Conduct restrictions ahead of upcoming assembly by-elections—the rollout was executed simultaneously across the state.
Political Friction Over Rebranding and Security Protocol
The launch event sparked sharp political exchanges between the ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) and the Opposition Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK).
Originally introduced in September 2022 during the previous DMK administration as the Chief Minister’s Breakfast Scheme for Classes 1 to 5, the TVK-led government renamed the programme after former Chief Minister K Kamaraj while extending it to middle schools. DMK leaders criticised the rebranding, accusing the administration of attempting to claim political ownership over an established welfare policy.
Simultaneously, opposition voices attacked the government over security protocols enforced at the Chennai launch site, alleging that security personnel subjected attending schoolchildren to bag searches. Government officials maintained that standard security procedures were followed to ensure orderly event execution.
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Ask News18The expanded Perunthalaivar Kamarajar Breakfast Scheme received an additional Rs 217.63 crore, bringing its total budget to Rs 724 crore and extending benefits to an extra 15.3 lakh students across 15,454 schools.
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Pathikrit Sen Gupta is a Senior Associate Editor with News18.com and likes to cut a long story short. He writes sporadically on Politics, Sports, Global Affairs, Space, Entertainment, And Food. He tra…Read More
September 22, 2026, 17:43 IST
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