More Corpn students to get free breakfast

The Greater Chennai Corporation and Akshaya Patra Foundation have extended the free breakfast scheme that is being implemented in Chennai Corporation schools, on Saturday.

During an event here on Saturday, Tamil Nadu Governor Banwarilal Purohit handed Rs 5 crore from the Discretionary Fund to the Akshaya Patra Foundation to set up centralised kitchens in Thousand Lights and Perambur areas.

According to a Chennai Corporation official, 15,000 students studying in Corporation schools situated in Thousand Lights area and 20,000 students near Perambur would be benefited by this.

The civic body and the NGO are already implementing the free breakfast scheme to provide breakfast for more than 5,000 children studying in its schools. The scheme had commenced in February 2019. As of now, breakfast is being provided for Corporation students in Adyar and Tiruvanmiyur zones.

“The scheme was launched after a request from the NGO, which is running such free meal programmes across India,” the official said.

Explaining the benefits of the offer, the official added that the NGO would prepare breakfast in its centralised kitchen and supply to schools before classes start at its own expense.

“Akshaya Patra will build its centralised kitchen inside a defunct Chennai Corporation school on Greams Road and vacant land that belongs to the civic body on Perambur Barracks Road,” the official added. Foundation stones to build the kitchens were laid on Saturday

When entering a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Akshaya Patra, the Corporation had laid down conditions and directed the NGO to ensure continued distribution of food to the children and not to stop the programme midway in an academic year.

A committee has been constituted to monitor the scheme, in which the secretary to Governor, Deputy Commissioners of Chennai Corporation, Educational Officer and representatives of Akshaya Patra Foundation have been appointed as members.