Stalin, Mann inaugurate fifth phase of CM’s Breakfast Scheme to include govt-aided primary schools

Inauguration of the fifth phase of the Chief Minister’s Breakfast Scheme witnessed Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann joining his Tamil Nadu counterpart MK Stalin in serving breakfast to students at the St Joseph’s Primary School at Mylapore in Chennai on Tuesday.

The two chief ministers, along with Tamil Nadu Deputy CM, Udhayanidhi, had their breakfast with the students on the occasion. This fifth phase is the most expansive one in the scheme as it covers 2,430 urban government-aided primary schools, benefiting an additional 3.05 lakh students.

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Launched as a pilot project in the year 2022 in Madurai, the Breakfast Scheme has steadily grown to provide nutritious breakfast every morning for a total of 20.59 lakh students across the state.

Mann is the second leader from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) to grace the inauguration of a flagship programme of the DMK government of Stalin as the Chief Guest. Earlier in September 2022, AAP national convenor and former Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejrival participated in the launch of the ‘Pudumai Pen’ Scheme, a programme to provide Rs 1,000 every month to girl students pursuing higher studies after completing their schooling from government schools.

“From now on, no student will step into the school with an empty stomach. With an annual outlay of Rs 600 crore, the scheme has now reached over 20 lakh students. I would not call this an expense, but a key social investment for a vibrant future,” Stalin said and thanked Mann for gracing this occasion along with his wife.

Tracing the history of serving food at state-run schools to the erstwhile Madras Presidency, he said the Justice Party government had started such an initiative in Chennai. The party is the precursor of the DMK. Then, it was former chief minister and Congress stalwart K Kamaraj who launched the mid-day meal scheme in primary schools.

On being asked what made him launch the scheme, Stalin recalled his interaction with girl students of a school at Ashok Nagar in the city, “Many students said they haven’t had anything, some only had tea while some others had bun. This prompted me to provide them breakfast as a government policy. Besides imparting knowledge, schools should also serve them food so that no student should sit in the class with an empty stomach.”

Stalin, praising the tangible results of the scheme, said there has been increased attendance, better mental and physical health due to reduction in mal-nutrition and enhanced learning abilities. Further, he said the scheme is being replicated in other places including Canada.