Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin Extends Chief Minister's Breakfast Scheme to Urban Areas. 3.06 Lakh Additional Children Will Receive Free Nutritious Breakfast in the Fifth Phase. Now, a Total of 20.59 Lakh Children Will Benefit in the State.
Tamil Nadu: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin has launched the fifth phase of the Chief Minister's Breakfast Scheme in the state's urban areas. The scheme was initially launched on September 15th in Madurai during its first phase. With this expansion, an additional 3.06 lakh children from 2,429 schools will now benefit from the scheme. Following the scheme's extension, a total of 20.59 lakh children in the state will receive free breakfast. On this occasion, Chief Minister Stalin, along with Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, served food to children at 'St. Joseph Primary School' and formally inaugurated the expansion of the scheme.
Objective of the Scheme
The main objective of the Chief Minister's Breakfast Scheme is to provide nutritious food to school-going children. This will help in the physical and mental development of the children and increase their interest in education. The Chief Minister said that this scheme is not limited to providing food, but it is also a b foundation for the development of children.
He also stated on this occasion that this scheme is among the priorities of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) government and is an important step towards a better future for children.
Safe and Clean Food for Children
Government spokesperson P. Amudha stated that all dishes under the scheme will be prepared in centralized kitchens. Children will be provided with nutritious items like Pongal, Khichdi, Upma, Dal, and Sambar. The prepared food will be delivered to the respective schools through vans. Full attention has been given to hygiene and safety in this process so that children get safe and nutritious food.
Which Children Will Benefit
The Chief Minister's Breakfast Scheme is for primary education students. It includes students from first to fifth grade. Stalin had announced in the Assembly on May 6, 2022, that free breakfast would be provided to all primary school children. In the first phase of the scheme, children in Madurai benefited, and now in the fifth phase, thousands of students in urban areas will receive nutritious breakfast.
Scheme's Contribution to Education and Nutrition
The Chief Minister said that from the time of the Justice Party to the Dravidian Model government, there has been a tradition of providing education and food to children in Tamil Nadu. The breakfast scheme will help children perform better in education along with health. Nutritious food will give children the energy to focus, learn and play. This scheme is a symbol of the state government's commitment to ensuring the holistic development of children.
Distribution Under the Scheme
In the fifth phase, the administration has made complete arrangements to deliver food to 3.06 lakh additional children under the scheme. The distribution of food in schools will be monitored by officials. A timed plan for vans and distribution centers has been prepared so that every child can get breakfast on time in their school. This initiative will not only ensure nutrition for children but will also increase their motivation to go to school.
