Tamil Nadu CM Stalin launches second phase of breakfast scheme in govt schools

Nagapattinam (Tamil Nadu) [India], August 25 : Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin on Friday launched the second phase of the 'CM’s Breakfast' scheme in government schools across the state. 
Inaugurating the programme in Nagapattinam district, CM Stalin shared a meal with a group of students at Panchayat Union Middle School in Thirukkuvalai and also distributed chocolates among them. 
“I believe today is the best day and am so proud to introduce this breakfast scheme here. Late Karunanidhi (former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu) has introduced and benefitted Thirukkuvalai with a lot of good schemes. As Karunanidhi's son, I am very proud to initiate this scheme here,” Stalin said while addressing the function. 
He said that this scheme aims to reduce hunger, and added that hunger should not be a barrier to education. 
“There is nothing more important than education and no one can take it away from us, so students should concentrate on studies. No one should miss education because of hunger that is why our government has allotted funds for this scheme. The government has invested funds to improve the knowledge and create motivation for the students, this investment will definitely be beneficial to the country,” CM said. 
The Chief Minister also appealed to the officers and those who prepare the meals to take care of the students as they care for their own children. 
“In the name of national education policy, in the name of NEET, there are treacherous rulers who put up barriers to education. A humble request to the officers and cooks, you should take care of the students here like how you would take care of your children at home,” he said. 
Stalin also announced of launching a scheme for the welfare of women on the occasion of former CM Annadurai’s birth anniversary, next week. The scheme aims at providing financial assistance to them. 
After the state-wide launch of 'CM's Breakfast' scheme, the state ministers and MLAs inaugurated the schemes in their respective constituencies. 
Tamil Nadu Sports and Youth Welfare Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin, Tamil Nadu Health Minister M Subramanian, and HR and CE Minister Sekar Babu rolled out the expansion of the scheme in Chennai Corporation Schools in their respective constituencies. 
"With an aim to increase the attendance rate, to encourage students to attend school and that no student should attend class with hunger the breakfast scheme was initiated by the government. School attendance increased after this scheme was rolled out. Now this scheme has been expanded to around 31,000 schools which would benefit more than 18,50,000 students. 65,030 students studying across 358 schools of the Chennai Corporation will benefit from this scheme," Udhayanidhi Stalin said while speaking on occasion. 
In Madurai, Tamil Nadu Information Technology and Digital Services Minister Palanivel Thiaga Rajan inaugurated the programme organised on the occasion.

The CM’s breakfast scheme was introduced in September last year and aimed at reducing the problem of malnutrition among students. Initially, it was launched with an aim to provide nutritious breakfast to more than 1 lakh government school students studying in classes I to V. 
With this statewide launch of the same, around 31,000 additional government schools will be covered under it with an estimated expenditure of Rs 404 crore. 
According to officials, more than 17 lakh students will be benefiting through this programme which has been expanded across the state.
The scheme will be implemented through the local bodies in different phases.