Tamil Nadu CM Vijay expands Kamaraj Breakfast Scheme to Classes VI-VIII, 34.64 lakh students to benefit
Synopsis
Tamil Nadu's free school breakfast programme just got its biggest upgrade yet — CM Vijay expanded it to Classes VI-VIII, bringing 15.30 lakh more children under its cover and pushing total beneficiaries to 34.64 lakh across nearly 45,000 schools, backed by a fresh ₹217.63 crore allocation.
Key Takeaways
Joseph Vijay launched the expanded Perunthalaivar Kamaraj Breakfast Scheme on 22 September 2026 in Chennai .
The scheme now covers students of Classes VI to VIII , adding 15.30 lakh new beneficiaries.
Total coverage: 34.64 lakh children across 44,984 government and government-aided schools .
The state government has allocated an additional ₹217.63 crore for the expanded programme.
The scheme excludes Madurantakam (Chengalpattu) and Dharapuram (Tiruppur) temporarily due to scheduled bye-elections.
Originally launched in 2022 by then CM M.K.
Stalin for Classes I-V; renamed and extended by the current TVK government.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay on 22 September 2026 launched the expanded Perunthalaivar Kamaraj Breakfast Scheme, extending free morning meals to students of Classes VI to VIII in government and government-aided schools across the state. The inauguration took place at the Corporation Middle School in Gandhigram, Thiruvanmiyur, Chennai, where Vijay served pongal to students and joined them for breakfast.
Scale of the Expansion
The latest extension brings an additional 15.30 lakh students under the programme, taking the total beneficiary count to 34.64 lakh children across 44,984 government and government-aided schools statewide. Prior to this expansion, the scheme covered 19.34 lakh students in 37,447 schools. The state government has earmarked an additional ₹217.63 crore for implementing the expanded programme.
Where the Scheme Does Not Apply Yet
The expansion has been rolled out across all districts with two exceptions — the Madurantakam constituency in Chengalpattu district and Dharapuram in Tiruppur district — both of which have Assembly bye-elections scheduled. These areas will be brought under the scheme once the electoral process concludes.
Background and Renaming
The breakfast programme was originally launched in 2022 by then Chief Minister M.K. Stalin under the DMK government, initially covering students of Classes I to V in government schools before being extended to government-aided institutions. Its goals were to combat malnutrition, improve school attendance, and reduce dropout rates among children. After the TVK government assumed office, the scheme was renamed the Perunthalaivar Kamaraj Breakfast Scheme, with Vijay subsequently announcing the extension to Classes VI, VII, and VIII.
What Students Will Be Served
Under the prescribed weekly menu, students will receive upma on Monday, khichdi on Tuesday, pongal on Wednesday, upma on Thursday, and a sweet dish on Friday. Chief Minister Vijay directed authorities to ensure all food is nutritious and prepared under hygienic conditions, and ordered regular inspections of kitchens and dining areas to monitor quality and timely distribution.
Launch Delayed Due to London Visit
The expansion had originally been scheduled for 17 September, coinciding with social reformer Periyar E.V. Ramasamy's birth anniversary. It was postponed to 22 September after Vijay travelled to London to attract industrial investments to Tamil Nadu. This comes amid a broader push by the TVK government to combine social welfare expansion with economic outreach.
Point of View
Signalling both continuity and ownership. With 34.64 lakh children now covered, Tamil Nadu is consolidating one of India's most extensive school nutrition programmes — yet the deliberate exclusion of two bye-election constituencies, however procedurally justified, hands the opposition a ready critique about electoral calculus shaping welfare delivery. The real measure of success will be implementation fidelity: nutritional quality, kitchen hygiene, and timely distribution at scale across nearly 45,000 schools are formidable logistical demands that inspection orders alone cannot guarantee.
NationPress
22 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Perunthalaivar Kamaraj Breakfast Scheme in Tamil Nadu?
The Perunthalaivar Kamaraj Breakfast Scheme is a state government initiative providing free morning meals to students in government and government-aided schools across Tamil Nadu. Originally launched in 2022 by then CM M.K. Stalin for Classes I to V, it has been renamed and expanded by the current TVK government to now include Classes VI, VII, and VIII.
How many students will benefit from the expanded breakfast scheme?
A total of 34.64 lakh children across 44,984 government and government-aided schools will now benefit from the scheme. The latest expansion adds 15.30 lakh new students from Classes VI to VIII to the existing base of 19.34 lakh students.
How much has the Tamil Nadu government allocated for the breakfast scheme expansion?
The Tamil Nadu government has allocated an additional ₹217.63 crore specifically for implementing the expanded programme covering Classes VI to VIII.
Why are two districts excluded from the expanded scheme for now?
The Madurantakam constituency in Chengalpattu district and Dharapuram in Tiruppur district have been temporarily excluded because Assembly bye-elections are scheduled in those areas. The scheme will be extended to these constituencies once the electoral process concludes.
What is the weekly menu under the Kamaraj Breakfast Scheme?
Students will be served upma on Monday, khichdi on Tuesday, pongal on Wednesday, upma on Thursday, and a sweet dish on Friday. Authorities have been directed to ensure all meals are nutritious and prepared under hygienic conditions, with regular kitchen inspections mandated.
