Free breakfast scheme for TN govt school students launched

MADURAI: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin in Madurai launched the free breakfast scheme for students of Classes 1 to 5 of government schools on Thursday after paying tributes to the statue of late CN Annadurai, the former chief minister on his birth anniversary at Nelpettai.

After launching the scheme at Athimoolam Corporation primary school, which is located at Keela Anna Thoppu in Madurai, the Chief Minister fed some students and had breakfast along with them. "It’s a red letter day in political history," the jubilant Chief Minister said.

The scheme, which he said would forever remain in history, will bring about positive changes in the lives of the poor. In a show of motherly compassion for children, the scheme was introduced and he urged the teachers and workers to deliver with the same spirit and kind heart to benefit the children. Now, the students have to focus only on their studies, adding that education is the greatest asset and has an everlasting value.

"Whatever the burden, be it financial or anything, the State government is committed to easing it. The aim of the scheme is that children should not go to school hungry," he added.

"I have no words to express my joy at seeing the smiles on the faces of children having breakfast," Stalin said, adding that this scheme would benefit 1.14 lakh students of 1,545 schools on a daily basis in its first phase.

While highlighting the breakfast scheme, which Stalin vowed to expand, he said it should not be considered free, but it’s the responsibility and duty of the State government to stop hunger.

The Dravidian Movement was founded to ensure that the economic status of people (the poor) should never remain an obstacle to education.

Recalling the good deeds of Thanthai Periyar, social reformer, former CMs Perarignar Anna and Muthamil Arignar Kalaignar in the days of yore, Stalin said those leaders felt education should be accessible to all irrespective of socio–economic background.

"Now I am following in their footsteps to pursue their dreams and desires and implementing them accordingly," he said.

The findings of several reports showed serving breakfast to students in schools enhanced learning ability and increased attendance of students. Moreover, the post-Covid situation has emphasised the need for a breakfast scheme.

With a concern for children, Karunanidhi during his regime introduced a scheme ‘Baby Roti’. In 1955, K Kamaraj, former Chief Minister introduced the mid-day meal scheme and it continued to be developed and upgraded under the DMK regime in 1971 led by the late M Karunanidhi, former Chief Minister, who later introduced the ‘nutritious meal scheme’ in 1975. Adding variety to the scheme, eggs were served to students of government schools five days a week, Stalin recalled.

School Education Minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi, PWD Minister EV Velu, Finance Minister PTR Palanivel Thiaga Rajan, Commercial Taxes Minister P Moorthy, Social Welfare Minister P Geetha Jeevan, Rural Development Minister KR Periyakaruppan, Labour Minister CV Ganesan, Madurai Collector S Aneesh Sekhar and others attended the event.