CM Vijay inaugurated the expanded Perunthalaivar Kamarajar Breakfast Scheme for Classes 6-8 on September 22 at Tiruvanmiyur, Chennai. 15.30 lakh additional students in 15,910 government and aided schools now benefit. Total budget Rs 724 crore.
Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay inaugurated the expansion of the Perunthalaivar Kamarajar Breakfast Scheme to Classes 6, 7 and 8 at 8:30 AM on September 22 at the Government Middle School, Gandhi Gramam, Tiruvanmiyur, Chennai — bringing an additional 15.30 lakh students under the programme and completing the coverage from Class 1 to Class 8.
The original CM’s Breakfast Scheme was launched by CM Stalin on September 15, 2022. CM Vijay renamed it after K. Kamaraj — the Congress stalwart, former TN Chief Minister and architect of free midday meals in Tamil Nadu schools. The rechristened Perunthalaivar Kamarajar Breakfast Scheme continues the same menu, implementation structure and guidelines.
| Detail | Confirmed |
|---|---|
| Launch venue | Govt Middle School, Gandhi Gramam, Tiruvanmiyur, Chennai |
| Launch time | 8:30 AM, September 22, 2026 |
| New classes covered | Classes 6, 7 and 8 |
| Additional students | ~15.30 lakh |
| Schools | 15,910 government and government-aided schools |
| Additional FY allocation | ₹217.63 crore |
| Total budget | ₹724 crore |
| Excluded | Chengalpattu + Tirupur (MCC for Oct 6 bypolls) |
| Menu | Uppama, Kitchadi, Pongal; millets twice a week; rava kesari/semiya kesari on Fridays |
| Delivery | SHG members; GCC integrated kitchens (447 schools); DMA (2,150 schools); TNWDC rural (12,857 schools) |
| Original scheme date | Sep 17 (deferred from London trip); rescheduled Sep 22 |
With today’s expansion, 34.64 lakh students across Tamil Nadu will receive a free hot breakfast every school morning — completing the full primary and middle school cycle.
At the launch at Tiruvanmiyur, CM Vijay personally served breakfast to students and spent time interacting with them — a warm personal gesture that was widely photographed and shared. The moment underscored his intention to connect directly with the scheme’s beneficiaries and drew appreciation for its simplicity.
The expansion was originally planned for September 17 (Periyar’s birth anniversary) but was deferred to accommodate CM Vijay’s official investment visit to London (Sep 10–17). September 22 was chosen as the new date. Chengalpattu and Tirupur districts are excluded for now due to the Model Code of Conduct in force for the October 6 bypolls.
Breakfast Scheme Welfare September 22 2026 Day 135