Children who eat breakfast have more energy. Skipping breakfast can make them tired, angry, and restless. To address this, the Tamil Nadu state government recently started the Chief Minister’s Breakfast Scheme, providing children with this important meal.
Launched on July 27, 2022, this program aims to support around 1,500 government elementary schools, benefiting approximately 114,000 children. In this article, we will explore the details of the Chief Minister’s Breakfast Scheme, including its eligibility criteria and benefits.
Tamilnadu CM Breakfast Scheme 2024 Details
| cheme Name | CM Breakfast Scheme |
| Launched By | CM M.K. Stalin |
| Launch Date | July 27, 2022 |
| Beneficiaries | School Kids (Class 1st – 5th) |
| Benefits | Free Breakfast |
| Website | Coming Soon |
What is Tamilnadu CM Breakfast Scheme
The Tamil Nadu government has launched the Chief Minister’s Breakfast Scheme in the state. Stressing the importance of breakfast, the Chief Minister highlighted that it should never be overlooked, especially as children often skip it due to early morning school rush, which can leave them tired, irritable, and restless.
Under this initiative, breakfast will be provided to students from classes one to five. The government allocated 33.56 billion rupees for the scheme on July 27, 2020. In its first phase, the program will cater breakfast to approximately 1,545 government primary schools, benefiting around 1.14 million students.
The scheme focuses on providing nutritious breakfasts to elementary school children on school days. Initially implemented through local bodies, it aims to expand across all of Tamil Nadu. During the current administration, efforts are also underway to enhance the school lunch program.
Each child will receive a balanced meal consisting of 150–500 grams of breakfast along with sambar and vegetables. The government has also outlined a breakfast menu for the five school days (Monday through Friday).
Expansion of the Chief Minister’s Breakfast Scheme
The Chief Minister’s Breakfast Scheme, initially piloted in 1,545 schools, significantly boosted student attendance by 90% after 11 months. Starting August 25, 2023, the program will be rolled out to all primary school students in government schools across Tamil Nadu, costing Rs 404 crore. Chief Minister M. K. Stalin will inaugurate the expanded initiative at a public middle school in Thirukkuvalai, the birthplace of his late father, Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi, around 8:15 am.
Introduced on September 15, 2022, in 1,545 schools, the ambitious program received acclaim for benefiting 1.14 lakh students. It will now extend to 31,008 government schools, providing breakfast to 15.75 lakh pupils in grades one through five statewide.
The government has allocated Rs 404 crore for the program’s expansion, aiming to offer schoolchildren a nutritious breakfast every school day. Stalin has urged MPs and MLAs from various parties to launch the initiative in their respective districts. The Chief Minister’s Free Breakfast Scheme aims to tackle children’s nutritional deficiencies and improve school attendance, echoing the success of the mid-day meal program replicated across India and beyond.
Breakfast Menu Under TN CM Breakfast Scheme
Weekday Menu
- Monday: Rice Upma, Rava Upma, Semayya Upma, or Wheat Upma with Vegetable Sambar.
- Tuesday: Rava Khichdi, Samay Kitchadi, Vegetable Khichdi, or Veet Rava Khichdi with Vegetable Sambar.
- Wednesday: Rava Pongal or Pongal with Vegetable Sambar.
- Thursday: Rice & Rava Upma, Samay Upma, Veet Rava Upma, Rava Kesari, or Samay Kesari.
- Friday: Rava Khichdi, Samay Khichdi, Vegetable Khichdi, Rava Kesari, or Samay Kesari.
Note: Meals may vary. Millet-based dishes should be included twice a week.
Objectives of Tamilnadu CM Breakfast Scheme
The session aims to highlight the importance of self-confidence among schoolchildren. By imparting such messages, the program seeks to educate students about the significance of mental and physical health, raising awareness not only among students but also within society. The primary objective is to ensure that schoolchildren receive a nutritious breakfast, promoting a positive start to their day and contributing to their overall well-being. Given its potential impact on a large number of elementary school pupils, the state government has allocated a substantial budget of Rs 33.56 crores for the phase spanning 2022 to 2023.
Tamilnadu CM Breakfast Scheme Benefits
There are several advantages to the program:
- The breakfast program offers a free meal to students in grades 1 through 5 early in the morning.
- Breakfast nourishes the child’s brain and overall health.
- The scheme promotes and nurtures children.
- By providing a meal, children who miss breakfast in the morning will stay attentive throughout the day without feeling hungry at school.
- The scheme initially benefits approximately 1.25 lakh young people.
- This scheme addresses nutritional deficiencies in elementary schools, especially in urban areas where children from disadvantaged backgrounds lack nutritious morning meals.
- More than 43,600 students in municipal corporations, over 17,400 in municipalities, more than 42,800 in village panchayat boundaries, and more than 10,100 in rural and hilly regions will benefit from the breakfast scheme.
Tamilnadu CM Breakfast Scheme Eligible Creteria
The eligibility requirements to benefit from the Tamil Nadu CM Breakfast Scheme are:
- Students must be residents of Tamil Nadu state.
- Students must be enrolled in classes 1st through 5th.
- Students must attend a government school.
Tamilnadu CM Breakfast Scheme Apply Process
The official website for the Tamil Nadu CM Breakfast Program will soon be launched, and we will keep you updated.
Reflecting on the evolution of such schemes in the state over the past 100 years, similar programs providing meals to elementary school students, like the lunch program in Madras (now Chennai), India, began in 1957. In 1989, Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi introduced a nutritious meal plan that continues to operate and has been continually improved. Likewise, the current breakfast program in Tamil Nadu aims to provide nutritional benefits to students in elementary schools, promoting children’s self-esteem and enhancing their overall health.