TN CM to launch expansion of breakfast scheme for school children on Aug 26

chennai: over 3.5 lakh students studying in government and aided primary schools in urban areas across tamil nadu will enjoy a hot breakfast on august 26 when chief minister m k stalin launches the expansion of the cm's breakfast scheme here.the flagship programme was inaugurated on september 15, 2022, for government school students — the first such initiative in india — when stalin served breakfast to students at adhimoolam corporation primary school in madurai.following an overwhelming response from parents and students, the scheme was expanded on august 25, 2023, in thirukuvalai, nagapattinam district, the birthplace of late chief minister m karunanidhi, benefiting 18.5 lakh students in 30,992 schools.it was further expanded on july 15, 2024, for 2.23 lakh students studying in 3,995 government-aided primary schools.according to an official release, a study found that student attendance improved after the introduction of the scheme. learning ability also improved, with over 90 per cent of children recalling previous lessons. malnutrition has been eliminated and students' health improved, it said.tamil nadu's model inspired other states, including telangana, to start a morning snack programme. “it is noteworthy that the government of canada has also adopted tamil nadu's morning snack programme,” the release stated.the extended programme will benefit more than 3.5 lakh students from class i to v in 2,430 government-aided primary schools in urban areas.