Tamil Nadu Expands Breakfast Scheme to Middle School Students

C. Joseph Vijay, the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, expanded the Perunthalaivar Kamarajar Breakfast Scheme on September 22, 2026. The program now extends to students in Classes VI through VIII, adding approximately 15.3 lakh beneficiaries across 15,454 government and government-aided schools.

Launched at the Gandhi Gramam Corporation School in Chennai, the expansion is supported by an additional ₹217.63 crore allocated by the state government for the current financial year. The initiative utilizes two distinct delivery models based on geography.

Centralized kitchens will provide meals for students within the Greater Chennai Corporation and other municipal areas. In rural areas and town panchayats, self-help groups affiliated with the Tamil Nadu Corporation for Development of Women will manage the preparation and service of breakfast for 12,857 schools.