Tamil Nadu renames breakfast scheme after Kamaraj, expands to Classes VI-VIII
Synopsis
Tamil Nadu has renamed its school breakfast scheme after K. Kamaraj and extended it to middle school students — adding 15.14 lakh children to a programme that already feeds nearly 20 lakh. With a ₹343.55 crore expansion bill and a launch timed to Periyar's birth anniversary, the TVK government is making school nutrition a centrepiece of its social welfare identity.
Key Takeaways
Tamil Nadu has renamed its school breakfast programme the Perunthalaivar Kamarajar Breakfast Scheme , effective via a government order dated 15 July 2025 .
Joseph Vijay directed the expansion of the scheme from Classes I-V to Classes VI-VIII in government and government-aided schools.
The expansion will cover an additional 15,14,274 students , taking the total beneficiary count to over 34 lakh children .
The expanded scheme will operate across 15,454 schools , up from the existing 37,447 primary-level schools.
Additional expenditure is estimated at ₹343.55 crore ; ₹217.63 crore has already been sanctioned for the current financial year.
The expanded scheme will be launched on 17 September , Periyar E.
Ramasamy's birth anniversary.
The Tamil Nadu government has renamed its flagship school breakfast initiative as the Perunthalaivar Kamarajar Breakfast Scheme, honouring former Chief Minister K. Kamaraj, while simultaneously extending the programme to students in Classes VI to VIII across government and government-aided schools statewide. The move, formalised through a government order dated 15 July 2025 — Kamaraj's birth anniversary — was circulated on Wednesday, 22 July.
Background and Expansion Details
The breakfast programme was originally launched under the previous Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) government to provide nutritious morning meals to students in Classes I to V. Following the formation of the TVK-led government, Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay directed officials to widen the scheme's reach to middle school students.
Currently, the scheme covers 19,34,230 students across 37,447 government and government-aided schools in the state. The expansion will bring an additional 15,14,274 students enrolled in Classes VI to VIII under the programme.
Schools Covered Under the New Rollout
According to the government order, the expanded scheme will operate across 15,454 schools in Tamil Nadu. Of these, 8,787 schools already implement the breakfast programme for primary classes and will now extend it to middle school students. An additional 6,667 schools that have Classes VI and above will be newly brought into the fold.
Financial Outlay
The government has estimated that extending the programme to middle school students will require an additional expenditure of ₹343.55 crore. Of this, ₹217.63 crore has already been sanctioned for the current financial year to fund the expanded component.
Launch Date and Significance
The expanded Perunthalaivar Kamarajar Breakfast Scheme is set to be formally launched on 17 September, the birth anniversary of social reformer Periyar E. V. Ramasamy. Officials said the timing is deliberate — honouring two of Tamil Nadu's most influential figures in social welfare and education within a single initiative.
The scheme is expected to become one of the largest school nutrition programmes in the country, complementing the state's longstanding noon meal programme. Officials stated that the expansion aims to strengthen child nutrition, improve school attendance, and support better learning outcomes by ensuring students begin their day with a healthy meal.
Point of View
Since hunger-driven dropout rates in Classes VI-VIII are well-documented. The real test, however, is implementation quality — the noon meal programme's long history shows that scaling school food schemes is harder than sanctioning them. Whether the ₹343.55 crore outlay translates into consistent, nutritious meals, rather than administrative leakage, will define this scheme's actual impact.
NationPress
22 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Perunthalaivar Kamarajar Breakfast Scheme in Tamil Nadu?
It is Tamil Nadu's renamed flagship school breakfast programme, previously implemented for Classes I to V, now expanded to cover Classes VI to VIII as well. The scheme provides nutritious morning meals to students in government and government-aided schools across the state, and was renamed to honour former Chief Minister K. Kamaraj on his birth anniversary.
How many students will benefit from the expanded scheme?
The expansion will bring an additional 15,14,274 students in Classes VI to VIII under the programme. Combined with the existing 19,34,230 students in Classes I to V, the scheme will serve over 34 lakh children across Tamil Nadu.
When will the expanded breakfast scheme be launched?
The expanded Perunthalaivar Kamarajar Breakfast Scheme is scheduled to be launched on 17 September, the birth anniversary of social reformer Periyar E. V. Ramasamy.
What is the additional cost of expanding the scheme to middle school students?
The Tamil Nadu government has estimated an additional expenditure of ₹343.55 crore to extend the programme to Classes VI to VIII. Of this, ₹217.63 crore has already been sanctioned for the current financial year.
How many schools will be covered under the expanded scheme?
The expanded programme will operate across 15,454 schools in Tamil Nadu — including 8,787 schools where the breakfast programme already runs for primary classes and 6,667 additional schools that have Classes VI and above.
