Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay launched the expansion of the Perunthalaivar Kamarajar Breakfast Scheme, extending its benefits to students of Classes VI to VIII across 15,454 government and government‑aided schools. The initiative will now reach nearly 15.3 lakh children statewide.

The launch event was held at Chennai Middle School, Gandhi Gramam, Thiruvanmiyur, where the Chief Minister personally served sweet pongal to students and joined them for breakfast. On the menu were pongal, sambar, and sweet pongal, symbolising the State’s commitment to providing nutritious meals to schoolchildren.

Mr Vijay also inspected classrooms and interacted with students, underscoring the government’s focus on education, nutrition, and welfare. The scheme, named after former Chief Minister Kamarajar, aims to improve student attendance, concentration, and overall well‑being by ensuring that no child starts the school day hungry.

The expansion marks a significant step in Tamil Nadu’s social welfare initiatives, reinforcing the State’s reputation as a pioneer in student‑centric policies.