Tamil Nadu Govt Announced a Breakfast Scheme for Primary School Students

Along with the mid-day meal, the Tamil Nadu government will offer breakfast in government schools. This is the first state in the country to introduce a breakfast scheme for students studying in Classes 1 to 5 in the government schools of the state. 

Totally five schemes were introduced in the state legislature under Rule 110 by the Chief Minister of the state on completion of his one-year term. Under Rule 110, the Chief Minister or any other Minister can introduce any resolution in the assembly which can be passed without any discussion.

The scheme was introduced based on a public health study by the government on the alarming trends of malnourished children in the state. The study revealed that many children who start early to school were skipping breakfast. 

Initially, the scheme would be implemented in primary schools in a few corporations, municipalities, and remote villages through local body administration. It would be extended across the state in a phased manner.

The midday meal scheme was initiated by the erstwhile Madras Municipal Corporation in 1920. Post-Independence, Tamil Nadu is the first state in the country to introduce a school feeding scheme in 1956 under Chief Minister K Kamaraj. This scheme was later emulated by the union government in the shape of what’s today known as the midday meal scheme.

The Chief Minister also announced a new ‘school of excellence programme’ at the cost of Rs.150 crores to modernize the infrastructure and invent a new learning environment for school students. 

The state government also introduced the ‘Special nutritional scheme’ based on the alarming trends of malnourished children in the state to ensure that all children in Tamil Nadu are not malnourished.

   Important points for the exam:

• Tamil Nadu is the first state in the country to provide Breakfast to the school children along with the mid-day meal.
• The breakfast will be served to the children studying in classes 1 to 5 studying in government schools across the state. 
• The scheme was introduced based on a public health study by the government. As per the study, many children who start early school were skipping breakfast which will result in malnutrition among the children.
• Initially, the scheme would be implemented in primary schools in a few corporations, municipalities, and remote villages through local body administration. It would be extended across the state in a phased manner.
• The state government also introduced the ‘school of excellence programme’ at the cost of Rs 150 crore to modernize the infrastructure and invent a new learning environment for school students. 

   Facts to know:

• Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu: Mr.M. K. Stalin.
• Governor of Tamil Nadu: Mr.R. N. Ravi.
• Erstwhile Madras (State) was renamed ‘Tamil Nadu’ in 1969.